Human est1 gene

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an isolated, enriched, purified or recombinant nucleic acid sequences (EST1) and proteins encoded thereby having activity as telomerase activity modulators. The invention also provides methods for screening for agents having mammalian telomerase modulating activity.

[0001] The present invention relates to novel proteins, peptide fragments and conjugates thereof, and nucleic acid encoding for the proteins and fragments, that have utility in modulation of telomere production. The novel protein, peptide fragments and DNA have utility in rendering cells capable of longer or shorter replicative life, at least in terms of number of replications before the cell exits the cell cycle, and in screening for agents that are capable of anticancer activity in so far as they modulate a cells ability to ‘immortalise’ itself.

[0002] Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein particle required for the complete replication of chromosome ends (see Curr. Op. Genetics and Development 8, 226 (1998). The telomerase RNA moiety is tightly associated with telomerase proteins and serves as a template for telomerase repeat synthesis. Telomerase activity is absent in normal human somatic cells and therefore, chromosomal ends or telomeres shrink with each replication cycle in these cells (see Science 279, 349 (1998)). This deficit limits the replicative potential of normal human somatic cells. In 85% of all tumours telomerase is upregulated and telomerase activation appears to be a critical event during tumorigenesis (see Nature 400 464 (1999)). Telomerase inhibitors are of potential use for the treatment of neoplasias while the absence of telomerase activity in most normal tissues has been implicated in age-related diseases.

[0003] Yeast Est1p is a yeast telomerase component essential for the replication of telomeres. Upon deletion of the yeast EST1 gene, telomeres shrink with each replication cycle, as would be the case in a telomerase defect (see Cell 57, 633 (1989)). Est1p is associated with yeast telomerase RNA and binds to single-stranded telomerase DNA in vitro (see Current Biology 10, 809 (2000)). It is thought to mediate the interaction between the telomere and telomerase (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 94, 11190 (1997); Science 286, 117 (1999). However, human or vertebrate homologues of yeast Est1p have not been disclosed in the prior art. In fact the apparent absence of similar factors led to the hypothesis that vertebrates employ a different telomere replication mechanism. This hypothesis was supported by the discovery of large lariat structures called T-loops at human telomeres (see Griffith et al. Cell 1999 May 14;97(4):503-14).

[0004] The present inventors have identified human cDNA expressed sequence tag sequences that can be demonstrated to have low but significant sequence homology to yeast ESTI (see Table 1 and FIGS. 1 and 2 herein). Using reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) they have amplified the cDNA sequences missing in deposited sequences and derived the complete open reading frames. Northern blot analysis (see FIG. 3 herein) demonstrates that these homologues are expressed in normal cells and in tumour derived cell lines (see FIG. 3).

[0005] The inventors have further provided antibodies against synthetic peptides predicted from the gene and protein sequences (see FIG. 4) and with one of these were able to immunoprecipitate the telomerase RNA moiety, demonstrating that this protein is associated with telomerase in vivo (see Table 2). Furthermore, they have demonstrated that the antibody specific for this protein also immunoprecipitates telomerase activity (see FIG. 5) which demonstrates that the protein is associated with active telomerase in vivo.

[0006] The inventors have still further demonstrated that, by expressing this protein in a human derived tumour cell line having telomerase activity, it is possible to interfere with native telomerase activity such that telomeres are reduced in length and thus their replicative capacity is reduced.

[0007] This is probably, but not exclusively, effected by recruitment of other telomerase obligate components away from the telomerase reverse transcriptase active subunit (hTERT or EST-2) by the overexpressed EST1. The EST1 protein may have to interact simultaneously with several ligands to fulfill its biological function. High levels of Est1 may lead to the formation of non-functional binary instead of functional ternary complexes. Possible ligands include hTERT or EST-2, telomerase RNA, telomeric DNA, Pot1 (cdc13) and other known and unknown telomere binding proteins. Over expressed levels of Est1 may lead to the formation of abnormally stable Est1-ligand complexes which prevent the ligand interacting with other molecules that act at the telomere. High levels of Est1 may induce a signal cascade that leads to repression (reduced expression or modification) of telomere replication factors.

[0008] Thus in a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated, enriched, purified or recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding for a protein having activity as a human telomerase activity modulator characterised in that it comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding for an amino acid sequence selected from those of SEQ ID No 2, SEQ ID No 4, SEQ ID No 5 and SEQ ID No 6 and sequences having at least 70% amino acid homology thereto and an active peptide fragment of any of these sequences.

[0009] More preferably the protein comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No 2 or 4 or one that has 75% or more homology, more preferably 80% or more and still more preferably 90% or more to one of those sequences.

[0010] More preferably the nucleic acid comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID No 1 or SEQ ID No 3 or is capable of hybridising with nucleic acid having such a sequence under conditions of defined stringency.

[0011] Preferred nucleotide sequences include those that will hybridise with those of SEQ ID No 1 or 3 under standard stringency conditions of 2× SSC, more preferably high stringency conditions of 1× SSC (see Church and Gilbert, Proc Nat Acad Sci USA (1984) 81, 1991-1995 incorporated herein by reference). Preferred fragments, particularly of SEQ ID No 1 and homologues, are C-terminally truncated fragments.

[0012] It will be realised that by active fragments and homologues having the stated homology thereto we intend functional variants. A “functional variant” of a peptide or protein is a polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which can be derived from the amino acid sequence of the original peptide or protein by the substitution, deletion and/or addition of one or more amino acid residues in a way that, in spite of the change in the amino acid sequence, the functional variant retains at least a part of at least one of the biological activities of the original protein that is detectable for a person skilled in the art.

[0013] Preferably the amino acid sequence of the functional variant is at least 50% identical, more preferably at least 70% identical and most preferably at least 90% identical to the peptide or protein. Any functional part of a protein or a variant thereof is also termed functional variant. Biological function in the present application is the ability to modulate human telomerase activity in vivo or the activity of hTERT in vitro or in vivo.

[0014] By “homologous” is meant that the stated percentage of the amino acid sequence has identity or is of conservatively substituted amino acids. By “identical” is meant that the stated percentage of the amino acid sequence is identical. Both these percentage terms allow for gapping of sequences to allow alignment as is described below.

[0015] Particularly, by the term “identity” is meant that the stated percentage of the claimed amino acid sequence or base sequence is to be found in the reference sequence in the same relative positions when the sequences are optimally aligned, notwithstanding the fact that the sequences may have deletions or additions in certain positions requiring introduction of gaps to allow alignment of the highest percentage of amino acids or bases. Preferably the sequence are aligned by using 20 or less gaps, i.e. the total number of gaps introduced into the two sequences when added together is 20 or less, more preferably 10 or less. The length of such gaps is not of particular importance as long as the defined activity relating to modulation is maintained but generally will be no more than 50, and preferably no more than 10, amino acids, or 150 and preferably no more than 30 bases.

[0016] Variants from the aforesaid sequences preferably are conservative substitutions. The expression “conservative substitutions” as used with respect to amino acids relates to the substitution of a given amino acid by an amino acid having physicochemical characteristics in the same class. Thus where an amino acid has a hydrophobic characterising group, a conservative substitution replaces it by another amino acid also having a hydrophobic characterising group; other such classes are those where the characterising group is hydrophilic, cationic or anionic, or contains a thiol or thioether. Such substitutions are only contemplated where the resultant protein has hTERT modulating activity. For the present purposes proline may be treated as hydrophobic, but is preferably not substituted.

[0017] Algorithms and software suitable for use in aligning amino acid or nucleotide sequences for comparison and calculation of sequence homology or identity will be known to those skilled in the art. Significant examples of such tools are the Pearson and Lipman search based FAST and BLAST programs. Details of these may be found in Altschul et al (1990), J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-10; Lipman D J and Pearson W R (1985) Science 227, p1435-41. Publicly available details of BLAST may be found on the internet at ‘http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/blast-help.html’. Thus such homology and identity percentages can be ascertained using commercially or publicly available software packages incorporating, for example, FASTA and BLASTn software or by computer servers on the internet. Examples of the former are the GCG program package (Devereux et al Nucleic Acids Research (1984) 12 (1): 387) and the Bestfit program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, eg. Version 8 for Unix or IBM equivalent, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis. 53711), which uses the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, Advances in Mathematics 2:482-489 (1981). Many international institutes, e.g. Genbank (see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST) and EMBL (see http://www.embl-heidelberg.de/Blast2), offer internet services.

[0018] Parameters used in with software packages and internet servers should be applied with the appropriate sequence lengths and aforesaid gap characteristics in mind. Alignment strategies are discussed further in WO 98/40483 on pages 39 to 41, which document is incorporated herein by reference

[0019] Convenient parameters for BLAST searches are the default values, i.e. for EMBL Advanced Blast2: Blastp Matrix BLOSUMS 62, Filter default, Echofilter X, Expect 10, Cutoff default, Strand both, Descriptions 50, Alignments 50. For BLASTn defaults are again preferably used. GCG Wisconsin Package defaults are Gap Weight 12, Length weight 4. FASTDB parameters used for a further preferred method of homology calculation are mismatch penalty=1.00, gap penalty=1.00, gap size penalty=0.33 and joining penalty=30.0.

[0020] Nucleic acids of the invention may be degeneratively substituted with respect to that exemplified herein in the sequence listing. The expression ‘degeneratively substituted’ refers to substitutions of nucleotides by those which result in codons encoding for the same amino acid; such degenerative substitutions being advantageous where the cell or vector expressing the protein is of such different type to the DNA source organism cell that it has different codon preferences for transcription/translation to that of the cDNA source cell. Such degenerative substitutions will thus be host specific

[0021] Preferred encoded proteins may be provided as conjugated to other proteins, e.g. chromosome end capping proteins or peptides eg. such as cdc13, as fusion proteins and the nucleic acid, e.g. DNA, may encode for such fusions.

[0022] In a second aspect of the invention there is provided an isolated, enriched, purified or recombinantly produced protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No 2, SEQ ID No 4, SEQ ID No 5 and SEQ ID No 6 or a part of any of these, the protein or part thereof being effective to modulate the activity of telomerase in tumour cells in vivo or the ability of hTERT (human EST2) to extend telomere length in vitro.

[0023] It will be realised that one way to determine the ability of the protein to modulate the activity of telomerase in vivo will involve expressing nucleic acid, e.g. DNA, within the tumour cell and comparing the length of telomeres in that cell with that of telomeres in a cell of similar origin that lacks that expression of nucleic acid.

[0024] In a third aspect of the present invention there is provided antisense nucleic acid, particularly DNA, to that of the first aspect such that it is capable of downregulating expression of one or more of human EST1 gene products in vivo such that telomerase activity in a cell, particularly a tumour or precancerous cell, is reduced or eliminated. In this manner an ‘immortalised’ cancer or precancerous cell, e.g. a cell that would but for other anti-neoplastic agents, e.g. p53 or pRb, be cancerous, can be limited in replicative potential.

[0025] In a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for screening for agents having mammalian, and particularly human, telomerase modulating activity, in vivo or in vitro, comprising monitoring the interaction of a protein of the second aspect with one or more of the agents. It will be realised by those skilled in the art that such interaction will most conveniently be carried out in liquid medium, more preferably aqueous medium, typically of a physiologically compatible nature, eg. intracellular fluid mimicing assay buffer.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for screening for agents having mammalian, and particularly human, telomerase modulating activity, in vivo or in vitro, comprising monitoring the interaction of a protein of the second aspect with one or more of said agent(s), which comprises determining whether the presence of the agent modulates the interaction of the protein with one or more ligands selected from, mammalian DNA, mammalian telomerase RNA and a protein essential to the elongation of mammalian telomeres.

[0027] In a second preferred embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for screening for agents suspected of having mammalian, particularly human, telomerase modulating activity, in vivo or in vitro, characterised in that it comprises (i) placing hTERT and a protein of the second aspect together in an aqueous medium together with DNA, telomerase RNA and the suspect agent, (ii) monitoring the ability of the hTERT (human EST2) to produce or extend telomeres on the DNA, (iii) determining any modulation of the elongation of telomeres in response to the agent as compared to a control medium having hTERT, protein, DNA, telomerase RNA but lacking the agent and (iv) designating the agent as a suspected inhibitor or activator of telomerase activity or as inactive accordingly.

[0028] It will be realised that the assay medium may further include a human end capping protein, such as cdc13 (Pot1) protein and any other cofactors that might be of utility in such a screening method. The method may also be carried out in a cell line lacking human telomerase activity.

[0029] In a third preferred embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of screening for agents suspected of having mammalian, particularly human, in vivo or in vitro telomerase modulating activity characterised in that it comprises (i) providing one or more of human telomerase (hTERT or human EST2) and telomerase RNA together in an assay medium or cell together with a protein or fragment thereof of the second aspect and the suspected agent, (ii) lysing the cell if present and treating the lysate to provide a fraction containing the protein or fragment, (iii) mixing the fraction or medium containing the protein or fragment together binding agent specific for binding the protein or fragment and (iv) assessing the content of bound fragment from step (iii) for telomerase and/or telomerase RNA content and (v) correlating the amount of bound telomerase activity or RNA with activity of the suspect agent as either an inhibitor or activator of interaction of human in vivo telomerase activity or an inactive accordingly.

[0030] This aspect is conveniently carried out by use of a pull down assay with an antibody raised to the protein or fragment of the second aspect of the invention.

[0031] A further preferred embodiment of the fourth aspect is an immunoprecipitation assay wherein an intact telomerase complex (i.e. having all the components necessary for mammalian telomerase activity), in a form derived from a mammalian cell, is immunoprecipitated with an antibody generated against a protein of the second aspect or an immunogenic fragment thereof in the presence of an agent being screened for telomerase modulating activity; the presence of precipitated telomerase is detected and the amount thereof is correlated to the presence and amount of activity of modulating agent.

[0032] The telomerase is preferably in a form enriched from human cells, such as but not limited to tumour cells such as HeLa cells, and particularly from the mammalian cells nuclei.

[0033] A further preferred embodiment of the fourth aspect takes the form of a multi-hybrid binding assay using an organism, such as a yeast or a bacteria, to monitor the ability of a compound being screened to modulate the interaction of two or more of mammalian, preferably human, hTERT, Pot1 (cdc13) and hEST1 with a protein or fragment of the second aspect. It will be realised that hEST1 is a protein of the second aspect, but it has been determined by the present inventors that hEST1 is potentially capable of acting as a heterodimer or oligodimer, and thus any agent capable of modulating its interaction with itself can be calculated to have an effect on mammalian telomerase activity.

[0034] Preferred hybrid systems for use in this embodiment will combine two or three hybrid systems. Such systems commonly use yeast, but may use bacteria such as E. coli, for example as in the BacterioMatch system available from Stratagene wherein interacting molecules activate selectable ampicillin resistance gene and the lacZ gene. In this way the present inventors have been able to detect interactions between EST-1 molecules of the invention in the yeast two hybrid system indicating that it forms dimers or higher order multimers.

[0035] A further embodiment of the fourth aspect immobilises a protein or fragment of the second aspect onto a Scintillation Proximity Assay (SPA) material, such as a bead, exposes this to one or more of (a) a radiolabelled DNA oligo or polynucleotide corresponding to a mammalian hTERT sequence and (b) a radiolabelled telomerase RNA, such that the two bind whereby the labelled DNA is able to stimulate light emission from the beads, and correlates the difference in amount of light emitted from the beads in the presence of an agent to be screened and in its absence with the ability of the agent to modulate mammalian telomerase activity.

[0036] A further embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention labels one of a protein of the second aspect of the invention or fragment thereof with a fluorescent label and labels one or more components selected from hTERT, telomerase RNA and mammalian DNA with a second fluorescent label, exposes these to each other in an aqueous medium, exposes the medium to light energy at a frequency at which one of the labels absorbs that energy, measures the amount of fluorescence emitted by the other label at a second frequency, relates the amount of that fluorescence to binding between the two labelled components, and correlates the difference in fluorescence in presence of an agent to be screened and in its absence with the ability of the agent to modulate telomerase activity.

[0037] Examples of labels are of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and blue fluorescent protein (BFP). When these proteins are of the order of 5 nanometers apart, such as requires direct interaction of the fusion protein, they transfer energy in this manner. Such a technique is known as two-fusion fluorescence energy transfer (FRET). Also provided is bioluminescent resonance energy transfer (BRET), wherein transfer of energy resulting from the degradation of coelenterazine by Renilla luciferase (Rluc) to green fluorescent protein or a red shift variant, enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) causes emission of fluorescence. BRET is strictly dependent on the molecular proximity between the energy donor (Rluc) and acceptor (EYFP) makes it particularly appropriate for use in screening for modulators via modulation of that emission.

[0038] In a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided an antibody capable of binding a protein or peptide of the second aspect in a preferred or specific manner. Such antibody may be monoclonal or polyclonal, immobilised or free, and is exemplified in the examples below as used in a pull down assay.

[0039] In a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing or enhancing human telomerase activity in a cell that lacks or has relatively low native human telomerase activity comprising recombinantly incorporating nucleic acid, particularly DNA, as claimed in the first aspect of the invention into the cell in functional relationship with a promoter active in said cell.

[0040] Preferably the cell is a human cell for which it is desired to increase, potentially indefinitely, the number of potential cell replication cycles. In this manner so called ‘immortalisation’ of cells of benefit can be provided. For example, human somatic cells of a type particularly suited to the production of a particular therapeutic or diagnostic peptide or protein may be enhanced with respect to replicative potential, thus rendering them more useful in large laboratory scale or industrial scale production of said peptide or protein.

[0041] It will be realised that recombinantly incorporating only nucleic acid, e.g. DNA, of the first aspect may not always be sufficient, and thus preferred methods will also include incorporation of one or more nucleic acids encoding human EST2 (hTERT), human EST3 and cdc13 or some other protein having telomere end capping function in humans. It may also involve expressing conjugations of the protein of the invention together with one or more of these, particularly a conjugate of the present hEST1 with human cdc13 or a protein having telomere end capping function in humans. Promoters active in a human cell will occur to those skilled in the art and include CMV, SV40 and mPSV promoters.

[0042] In an eighth aspect of the present invention there is provided a vector or recombinant DNA encoding a dominant negative mutant EST1 protein or fragment of the second aspect of the invention sufficient to inhibit telomerase subunit assembly or binding to telomeres when expressed in a cell, particularly a tumour cell.

[0043] In a ninth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of treating a mammalian patient in need of therapy for a tumour which has telomerase activity comprising transforming the tumour cells with a vector comprising DNA of the eighth aspect. Preferred vectors may be in the form of a viral vector, such as those of adenovirus, lentivirus, adenovirus associated virus (AAV), parvovirus, herpes virus and other suitable gene therapy vectors. Particularly preferred are those viral vectors that include tumour or tissue specific promoters such as those referred to in PCT/US95/15455 or PCT/GB00/01142 incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively the transformation may be provided by integrating the nucleic acid, e.g. DNA, of the invention behind an existing promoter within a target cell.

[0044] In a tenth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of treating a mammalian patient in need of therapy for a disease wherein cells are losing the ability to replicate with resultant deficit in tissue function characterised in that it comprises transforming one or more of these cells with nucleic acid of the seventh aspect such that it is in functional relationship with a promoter functional in said cells. Again this may be carried out using a vector such as a viral vector or may be carried out by directly integrating the DNA into the cell, and most advantageously may be integrated functionally with respect to an existing endogenous promoter. Alternatively a promoter can be inserted into an operatively functional position with respect to an existing, but otherwise inactive EST1 sequence.

[0045] In an eleventh aspect the present invention provides a vector, such as a viral vector described above in the ninth aspect, comprising a nucleic acid and optional promoter as described in the tenth aspect.

[0046] The method of the tenth aspect and vector of the eleventh aspect has particular application to diseases of ageing and wasting diseases.

[0047] A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides PCR primers comprising from 10 to 30 contiguous bases of the sequence SEQ ID No 1 or SEQ ID No 3 or complementary sequence thereto.

[0048] A thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides an oligonucleotide probe, having use in detecting nucleic acid of the invention, comprising from 15 to the full length contiguous sequence of SEQ ID No 1 or SEQ ID No 3. Preferably the probe is labelled, e.g. with radiolabeled phosphorous.

[0049] The present invention will now be described further by way of illustration only by reference to the following non-limiting examples, Figures and Sequence listing. Further embodiments of the invention falling within the scope of the claims will occur to those skilled in the art in the light of these.

[0050] Sequence Listing

[0051] SEQ ID No 1 is the nucleic acid sequence of a cDNA encoding a preferred protein of the invention, designated herein EST1-0732.

[0052] SEQ ID No 2 is the amino acid sequence of that preferred protein of the invention.

[0053] SEQ ID No 3 is the nucleic acid sequence of a cDNA encoding a second protein of the invention, designated herein EST1-1089.

[0054] SEQ ID No 4 is the amino acid sequence of that protein of the invention.

[0055] SEQ ID No 5 is the amino acid sequence of a further protein of the invention designated herein EST1-3.

[0056] SEQ ID No 6 is the amino acid sequence of a further protein of the invention designated herein EST1-4.

[0057] SEQ ID No 7 is the amino acid sequence of a peptide fragment used as an antigen to raise antibodies specific to the protein of SEQ ID No 2.

[0058] SEQ ID No 8 is the amino acid sequence of a peptide fragment used as an antigen to raise antibodies specific to the protein of SEQ ID No 4.

FIGURES

[0059]FIG. 1 is an alignment of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID No 2 (0732) and 4 (1089) with those of other EST1 proteins S. cerevisiae EST1 and YDR206W, S. plombe SPBC2D10-13 and SPBC2F12-03C, C. elegans SMG-7, D. melanogastar LD02558.

[0060]FIG. 2 is a Northern Blot for the DNA of SEQ ID No 3.

[0061]FIG. 3 shows a telomerase assay of immunoprecipitates produced using antibodies to the proteins of SEQ ID No 2 (0732) and 4 (1089).

[0062]FIG. 4 shows diagrammatic representation of the constructs used in HeLa cell studies of Example 5.

[0063]FIG. 5 shows the effect of these studies on HeLa cell telomere length.

[0064]FIG. 6 shows the telomerase activity of affinity-purified telomerase fractions immunoprecipitated from HeLa NXT cells using αhEst1-antibodies raised to 0732 immunogenic peptide by the method of the invention as expressed on gels.

[0065]FIG. 7 shows the total activity of affinity purified telomerase fractions immunoprecipitated from HeLa NXT cells using using αhEst1-antibodies raised to 0732 immunogenic peptide (SEQ ID No 7) by the method of the invention.

[0066]FIG. 8 shows a Northern Blot Analysis of HEST Expression showing that this occurs in a complete variety of human tissues.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0067] Production of cDNAs encoding SEQ ID No 2 and 4.

[0068] DNA was produced using 5′RACE technique using human genomic RNA as template and suitable primers targeted at the ends of the sequences shown in the sequence listing. Similar techniques were used to obtain the sequences encoding SEQ ID No 5 and 6.

Example 2

[0069] Expression of Human EST1 Proteins of SEQ ID No 2 and 4.

[0070] Northern blots were produced from RNA fractions derived from a variety of different human tissues and probed using radiolabeled oligonucleotide probes specific to DNA of SEQ ID No 1 and SEQ ID No 3. FIG. 2 shows the distribution of the mRNA encoding SEQ ID No 3 while similar distribution was found for SEQ ID No 1 (not shown).

Example 3

[0071] Production of Antibodies to Proteins Comprising SEQ ID No 2 and SEQ ID No 4.

[0072] Peptides of 40 amino acids length were designed for each of the four homologues SEQ ID No 2, 4, 5 and 6. 500 μg of each peptide were used to immunise two rabbits per peptide, following the Eurogentec Bel S. A. (Herstal, Belgium) standard protocol. Intradermic multisite injections of 100 μg peptide (500 μl antigen solution, 500 μl adjuvant) were performed on days 0, 14, 28 and 56. Test blood samples (days 38 and 66) were checked for affinity to the peptides. All antibodies were affinity purified on antigen columns as described in Sambrook, J., Fitsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. (1989). Molecular cloning, a laboratory manual, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (incorporated herein by reference). The peptide an antibody was raised against was coupled to NHS-activated Sepharose 4 Fast Flow (Pharmacia) and washed extensively at low and high pH. Blood samples (20 ml) of immunized rabbits were passed over these antigen columns, the columns were washed, and bound antibodies eluted at high and low pH. Elution fractions were combined, concentrated and tested for antigen affinity in western blots.

Example 4

[0073] Telomerase Assay (TRAP) of Immunodrecipitates.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 3, HeLa cell nuclear extract (Lanes 1,2) was incubated with Protein A sepharose beads in the absence of antibody (lanes 4-6), presence of antibody to protein of SEQ ID No 7 (lanes 10-12) and antibody to protein of SEQ ID No 8 (lanes 13-15) and IgG negative control (lanes 7-9). The experiment was done in triplicate. Telomerase activity was specifically immunoprecipitated with antibody to SEQ ID No 7 (and thus SEQ ID No 2) demonstrating the association of 0732 (SEQ ID No 2) with active telomerase.

Example 5

[0075] Telomerase Assay of Immunoprecipitates.

[0076] Immunoprecipitations were performed as described in Example 4 using a human telomerase fraction that had been affinity purified approximately 200-fold from HeLa cell nuclear extracts (see Schnapp et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 1998 Jul. 1;26(13):3311-3) FIG. 7 shows the results of the immunoprecipitation. Immunoprecipitation using antibodies to SEQ ID No 7 precipitated 70% of total telomerase Antibodies against human telomerase hTERT, which served as a positive control precipitated 35% of the activity, whereas an unspecific rabbit IgG failed to immunoprecipitate significant amounts of telomerase activity. Immunoprecipitation of telomerase activity by antibodies against SEQ ID No. 7 was completely abolished by addition of a 3.5 molar excess of the peptide against the antibody was raised, whereas a nonspecific peptide did not compete. These results indicate that most or all active telomerase is associated with a protein that contains the antigen, most likely the EST-1 protein containing the peptide SEQ ID No. 7.

Example 6

[0077] Expression of Est1-0732 Constructs in HeLa Cells—Effects on Telomere Length.

[0078] Various Est1-0732 (SEQ ID No 2) constructs were overexpressed in HeLa cells I order to determine whether they had any in vivo activity with respect to telomere length.

[0079] Constructs used were as follows:

[0080] pCMV0732: Full length open reading frame of Estl-0732 in pEGFP-C2 (Clontech) from which GFP was removed by cutting the pEGFP-C2 vector with NheI and SmaI. The promoter used to drive over-expression was the CMV promoter.

[0081] 0732 D1: pCMV0732 was cut with Acc III and Fsp I, filled in to blunt end with Klenow enzyme in the presence of dNTPs and religated. This leads to a deletion of amino acids 607-791, which correspond to the region that is conserved among the Est1-family members shown in the alignment of FIG. 1.

[0082] 0732 D2: pCMV0732 was cut with Sal I and religated. This leads to deletion of amino acids 1060-end.

[0083] Transfection of HeLa Cells:

[0084] HeLa cell were transfected using the GenePORTER transfection reagent (from AXON LAB AG). Cells were selected on neomycin and grown under standard conditions.

[0085]FIG. 4 shows diagrammatic representation of these constructs while FIG. 5 shows the effect of transfecting the cells on telomere length, with the empty vector, D1 and AS having little or no effect but full length SEQ ID No 1 and D2 vectors showing clear reduction in telomere length, providing evidence that SEQ ID No 1 and C-terminal truncates thereof have activity in recruiting components of the telomerase obligate components away from hTERT.

Example 7

[0086] Multiple Tissue Northern (MTN)

[0087] A multiple tissue Northern blot was carried out using kit from Clontech (catalog No. 7780-1). The blot was hybridised with a probe made from a full length cDNA fragment of hEst1 that was labelled by random labelling with short oligonucleotides hexamers using standard protocols (Sambrook et al. Molecular cloning, CSH). The blot was also hybridised for control purposes with a human beta-actin cDNA probe provided by Clontech. FIG. 8 shows that hEST1 is expressed in a variety of human tissues.

Example 8

[0088] Simple Screening Assay for EST1 Interactors.

[0089] Activity in binding to hEST1 protein can be screened, at an initial level a least, by combining candidate interacting agents, in aqueous physiological buffer solution, with that protein. Both agent and protein are initial solubilised and, after combining and a suitable time to allow interaction, the protein is precipitated by salting, as is well known in the art. The amount of agent remaining in solution is measured, eg. by OD value, and inversely related to its ability to bind the hEST1 protein and thus its suitability for further screening is assessed.

1 14 1 4260 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(4260) 1 atg gcg gaa ggg ctg gag cgt gtg cgg atc tcc gcg tcg gag ctg cgc 48 Met Ala Glu Gly Leu Glu Arg Val Arg Ile Ser Ala Ser Glu Leu Arg 1 5 10 15 ggg atc ctg gct act ctg gcc ccg cag gcc ggg agc aga gaa aac atg 96 Gly Ile Leu Ala Thr Leu Ala Pro Gln Ala Gly Ser Arg Glu Asn Met 20 25 30 aag gaa tta aag gag gcc agg ccg cgc aaa gat aac agg cgt cct gat 144 Lys Glu Leu Lys Glu Ala Arg Pro Arg Lys Asp Asn Arg Arg Pro Asp 35 40 45 ctg gaa atc tat aag cct ggc ctt tct cgg cta agg aac aag ccc aaa 192 Leu Glu Ile Tyr Lys Pro Gly Leu Ser Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Pro Lys 50 55 60 atc aag gaa ccc cct ggg agt gag gag ttc aaa gat gaa att gtt aat 240 Ile Lys Glu Pro Pro Gly Ser Glu Glu Phe Lys Asp Glu Ile Val Asn 65 70 75 80 gac cga gat tgc tct gct gtt gaa aat ggt aca cag ccc gtt aaa gat 288 Asp Arg Asp Cys Ser Ala Val Glu Asn Gly Thr Gln Pro Val Lys Asp 85 90 95 gtc tgc aag gaa ctg aac aac caa gag cag aat ggt cct ata gac ccg 336 Val Cys Lys Glu Leu Asn Asn Gln Glu Gln Asn Gly Pro Ile Asp Pro 100 105 110 gaa aat aat cgg gga caa gaa tcc ttt cct agg act gct gga caa gag 384 Glu Asn Asn Arg Gly Gln Glu Ser Phe Pro Arg Thr Ala Gly Gln Glu 115 120 125 gat cgt agt cta aaa att atc aaa aga aca aag aaa ccc gac ctg cag 432 Asp Arg Ser Leu Lys Ile Ile Lys Arg Thr Lys Lys Pro Asp Leu Gln 130 135 140 atc tat cag cct gga cga cgt ttg cag act gtt agc aaa gaa tcc gcc 480 Ile Tyr Gln Pro Gly Arg Arg Leu Gln Thr Val Ser Lys Glu Ser Ala 145 150 155 160 agt cgg gtg gag gag gaa gaa gtc ctc aac cag gta gaa caa ctg aga 528 Ser Arg Val Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Leu Asn Gln Val Glu Gln Leu Arg 165 170 175 gta gag gaa gat gag tgt agg gga aat gtt gcg aag gag gaa gtt gcg 576 Val Glu Glu Asp Glu Cys Arg Gly Asn Val Ala Lys Glu Glu Val Ala 180 185 190 aat aaa cca gac agg gcc gag ata gaa aag agc cca ggt ggt ggg aga 624 Asn Lys Pro Asp Arg Ala Glu Ile Glu Lys Ser Pro Gly Gly Gly Arg 195 200 205 gta ggg gct gca aaa gga gaa aaa gga aag agg atg gga aaa ggg gag 672 Val Gly Ala Ala Lys Gly Glu Lys Gly Lys Arg Met Gly Lys Gly Glu 210 215 220 ggg gtg agg gaa acc cac gac gac ccg gcc cgc ggg agg ccg ggc tcc 720 Gly Val Arg Glu Thr His Asp Asp Pro Ala Arg Gly Arg Pro Gly Ser 225 230 235 240 gca aag cgc tac tcc cgc tca gac aaa cga agg aat cgc tac cgc acg 768 Ala Lys Arg Tyr Ser Arg Ser Asp Lys Arg Arg Asn Arg Tyr Arg Thr 245 250 255 cgc agc acc agc tca gct ggc agc aac aac agc gct gag gga gct ggc 816 Arg Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Gly Ser Asn Asn Ser Ala Glu Gly Ala Gly 260 265 270 ctg acg gat aat gga tgt cgc cgc cgc cga cag gat agg acc aag gag 864 Leu Thr Asp Asn Gly Cys Arg Arg Arg Arg Gln Asp Arg Thr Lys Glu 275 280 285 agg cca cga ctg aag cag caa gtg tct gtg tcc tca acc gat tcc tta 912 Arg Pro Arg Leu Lys Gln Gln Val Ser Val Ser Ser Thr Asp Ser Leu 290 295 300 gac gag gac aga att gat gag cct gat gga tta gga ccc agg aga agt 960 Asp Glu Asp Arg Ile Asp Glu Pro Asp Gly Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg Ser 305 310 315 320 tca gaa agg aag aga cat tta gaa aga aac tgg tct ggc cgt ggg gag 1008 Ser Glu Arg Lys Arg His Leu Glu Arg Asn Trp Ser Gly Arg Gly Glu 325 330 335 ggt gag cag aaa acc agt gct aaa gaa tat cga ggc act ctt cgt gtc 1056 Gly Glu Gln Lys Thr Ser Ala Lys Glu Tyr Arg Gly Thr Leu Arg Val 340 345 350 act ttc gat gca gaa gcc atg aac aaa gag tct ccc atg gtg agg tca 1104 Thr Phe Asp Ala Glu Ala Met Asn Lys Glu Ser Pro Met Val Arg Ser 355 360 365 gcc agg gat gat atg gat aga gga aag cct gac aaa ggc ttg agc agt 1152 Ala Arg Asp Asp Met Asp Arg Gly Lys Pro Asp Lys Gly Leu Ser Ser 370 375 380 ggg ggc aaa ggc tct gag aag cag gag tcc aaa aac ccg aaa caa gaa 1200 Gly Gly Lys Gly Ser Glu Lys Gln Glu Ser Lys Asn Pro Lys Gln Glu 385 390 395 400 ctt cgg ggt cgt ggt cgt ggc att ctg att ttg cct gcc cat acc acc 1248 Leu Arg Gly Arg Gly Arg Gly Ile Leu Ile Leu Pro Ala His Thr Thr 405 410 415 cta tct gtc aat tca gca ggt tct cca gag tcc gcg cct ttg gga cct 1296 Leu Ser Val Asn Ser Ala Gly Ser Pro Glu Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Pro 420 425 430 cgg ctt ttg ttt gga tct ggt agt aag ggg tct cgg agt tgg ggc cgt 1344 Arg Leu Leu Phe Gly Ser Gly Ser Lys Gly Ser Arg Ser Trp Gly Arg 435 440 445 gga ggc acc aca cgc cga ttg tgg gac cca aac aat cct gat cag aaa 1392 Gly Gly Thr Thr Arg Arg Leu Trp Asp Pro Asn Asn Pro Asp Gln Lys 450 455 460 cct gct cta aag act cat acg ccc cag cta cat ttc ttg gac act gat 1440 Pro Ala Leu Lys Thr His Thr Pro Gln Leu His Phe Leu Asp Thr Asp 465 470 475 480 gat gaa gtc agc cct aca tct tgg ggt gac tca cgc cag gct cag gca 1488 Asp Glu Val Ser Pro Thr Ser Trp Gly Asp Ser Arg Gln Ala Gln Ala 485 490 495 tct tac tat aag ttt caa aac tct gac aac ccc tat tat tac ccc cgg 1536 Ser Tyr Tyr Lys Phe Gln Asn Ser Asp Asn Pro Tyr Tyr Tyr Pro Arg 500 505 510 aca cca ggc cct gcc tcc cag tat ccc tat acg ggc tat aac cct cta 1584 Thr Pro Gly Pro Ala Ser Gln Tyr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Tyr Asn Pro Leu 515 520 525 cag tac cca gtg ggc cct acg aat ggt gtg tac cca ggg cct tac tac 1632 Gln Tyr Pro Val Gly Pro Thr Asn Gly Val Tyr Pro Gly Pro Tyr Tyr 530 535 540 cca ggc tac ccg act ccg tca gga cag tat gtg tgt agc cct ctg cct 1680 Pro Gly Tyr Pro Thr Pro Ser Gly Gln Tyr Val Cys Ser Pro Leu Pro 545 550 555 560 acc agc acc atg agt ccc gag gag gta gag cag cac atg agg aac ctg 1728 Thr Ser Thr Met Ser Pro Glu Glu Val Glu Gln His Met Arg Asn Leu 565 570 575 cag caa cag gag ctg cac agg ctt ctc cgg gtg gct gac aac cag gaa 1776 Gln Gln Gln Glu Leu His Arg Leu Leu Arg Val Ala Asp Asn Gln Glu 580 585 590 ctg cag ctc agc aac ctg ctc tcc agg gac cgc atc agt ccg gag ggc 1824 Leu Gln Leu Ser Asn Leu Leu Ser Arg Asp Arg Ile Ser Pro Glu Gly 595 600 605 ctg gag aag atg gcg caa ctc aga gct gaa ctg ctg cag cta tat gag 1872 Leu Glu Lys Met Ala Gln Leu Arg Ala Glu Leu Leu Gln Leu Tyr Glu 610 615 620 cgc tgt att cta tta gat att gag ttc tct gat aat cag aat gtg gat 1920 Arg Cys Ile Leu Leu Asp Ile Glu Phe Ser Asp Asn Gln Asn Val Asp 625 630 635 640 cag atc ctg tgg aag aat gct ttc tat cag gtg att gag aag ttc agg 1968 Gln Ile Leu Trp Lys Asn Ala Phe Tyr Gln Val Ile Glu Lys Phe Arg 645 650 655 caa ctt gtc aag gat ccg aat gtt gag aac cca gaa cag att cgg aac 2016 Gln Leu Val Lys Asp Pro Asn Val Glu Asn Pro Glu Gln Ile Arg Asn 660 665 670 aga ctt ttg gag ctc ttg gat gag ggt agt gac ttc ttt gat agt ttg 2064 Arg Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Asp Glu Gly Ser Asp Phe Phe Asp Ser Leu 675 680 685 ctt cag aag ctg cag gtt act tac aag ttc aaa ctg gaa gac tac atg 2112 Leu Gln Lys Leu Gln Val Thr Tyr Lys Phe Lys Leu Glu Asp Tyr Met 690 695 700 gat ggt ctt gcc att cgc agc aag cca tta cgc aag aca gta aaa tat 2160 Asp Gly Leu Ala Ile Arg Ser Lys Pro Leu Arg Lys Thr Val Lys Tyr 705 710 715 720 gcc ttg atc agt gcc cag cga tgc atg ata tgc caa gga gat att gct 2208 Ala Leu Ile Ser Ala Gln Arg Cys Met Ile Cys Gln Gly Asp Ile Ala 725 730 735 agg tac cgg gag caa gcc agt gat aca gcg aat tat ggg aaa gca cgc 2256 Arg Tyr Arg Glu Gln Ala Ser Asp Thr Ala Asn Tyr Gly Lys Ala Arg 740 745 750 agt tgg tac ctg aag gcc cag cac att gct ccc aag aat ggg cgc ccc 2304 Ser Trp Tyr Leu Lys Ala Gln His Ile Ala Pro Lys Asn Gly Arg Pro 755 760 765 tat aac cag ttg gct ttg ctg gca gtg tat acg agg agg aag ctt gac 2352 Tyr Asn Gln Leu Ala Leu Leu Ala Val Tyr Thr Arg Arg Lys Leu Asp 770 775 780 gct gtc tat tac tat atg cgc agt tta gct gcc agc aac cct atc ctg 2400 Ala Val Tyr Tyr Tyr Met Arg Ser Leu Ala Ala Ser Asn Pro Ile Leu 785 790 795 800 act gcc aag gag agt ctc atg agc ttg ttt gaa gag acc aag cgg aag 2448 Thr Ala Lys Glu Ser Leu Met Ser Leu Phe Glu Glu Thr Lys Arg Lys 805 810 815 gca gaa cag atg gaa aag aag caa cat gag gaa ttt gac ctg agc cct 2496 Ala Glu Gln Met Glu Lys Lys Gln His Glu Glu Phe Asp Leu Ser Pro 820 825 830 gac cag tgg cgg aaa gga aag aag tct act ttc cgg cat gtt gga gat 2544 Asp Gln Trp Arg Lys Gly Lys Lys Ser Thr Phe Arg His Val Gly Asp 835 840 845 gac acc act cgc ctg gag atc tgg att cat cca tcc cat cca cgg tct 2592 Asp Thr Thr Arg Leu Glu Ile Trp Ile His Pro Ser His Pro Arg Ser 850 855 860 tcc cag ggc act gag tct ggg aag gat tct gag caa gag aat ggg ctg 2640 Ser Gln Gly Thr Glu Ser Gly Lys Asp Ser Glu Gln Glu Asn Gly Leu 865 870 875 880 ggc agc ctg agt ccc agt gat ctg aac aaa agg ttc atc ctc agt ttt 2688 Gly Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Asp Leu Asn Lys Arg Phe Ile Leu Ser Phe 885 890 895 ctc cat gcc cat ggg aag ctg ttt acc cgg att ggg atg gag aca ttc 2736 Leu His Ala His Gly Lys Leu Phe Thr Arg Ile Gly Met Glu Thr Phe 900 905 910 cct gca gtg gct gag aag gtc ctc aag gag ttc cag gtg tta ctg cag 2784 Pro Ala Val Ala Glu Lys Val Leu Lys Glu Phe Gln Val Leu Leu Gln 915 920 925 cac agc ccc tct ccc att gga agt acc cgc atg ctg cag ctt atg acc 2832 His Ser Pro Ser Pro Ile Gly Ser Thr Arg Met Leu Gln Leu Met Thr 930 935 940 atc aat atg ttt gca gta cac aac tcc cag ctg aaa gac tgc ttc tcg 2880 Ile Asn Met Phe Ala Val His Asn Ser Gln Leu Lys Asp Cys Phe Ser 945 950 955 960 gag gag tgc cgc tct gtg atc cag gaa caa gcc gca gct ctg ggc ttg 2928 Glu Glu Cys Arg Ser Val Ile Gln Glu Gln Ala Ala Ala Leu Gly Leu 965 970 975 gcc atg ttt tct cta ctg gtc cgc cgc tgc acc tgc tta ctt aag gag 2976 Ala Met Phe Ser Leu Leu Val Arg Arg Cys Thr Cys Leu Leu Lys Glu 980 985 990 tcc gcc aaa gct cag ctg tcc tct cct gag gac cag gat gac caa gac 3024 Ser Ala Lys Ala Gln Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Asp Gln Asp Asp Gln Asp 995 1000 1005 gac atc aag gtg tct tcc ttt gtc ccg gac ctg aag gag ctg ctc ccc 3072 Asp Ile Lys Val Ser Ser Phe Val Pro Asp Leu Lys Glu Leu Leu Pro 1010 1015 1020 agt gtc aaa gtc tgg tca gat tgg atg ctc ggc tac ccg gac acc tgg 3120 Ser Val Lys Val Trp Ser Asp Trp Met Leu Gly Tyr Pro Asp Thr Trp 1025 1030 1035 1040 aat cct cct ccc aca tcc ctg gat ctg ccc tcg cat gtt gct gtg gat 3168 Asn Pro Pro Pro Thr Ser Leu Asp Leu Pro Ser His Val Ala Val Asp 1045 1050 1055 gta tgg tcg acg ctg gct gat ttc tgt aac ata ctg act gca gtg aat 3216 Val Trp Ser Thr Leu Ala Asp Phe Cys Asn Ile Leu Thr Ala Val Asn 1060 1065 1070 cag tct gag gtg cca ctg tac aag gac ccg gat gat gac ctc acc ctt 3264 Gln Ser Glu Val Pro Leu Tyr Lys Asp Pro Asp Asp Asp Leu Thr Leu 1075 1080 1085 ctt atc ctg gaa gag gat cgg ctt ctc tcg ggc ttt gtc ccc ttg ctg 3312 Leu Ile Leu Glu Glu Asp Arg Leu Leu Ser Gly Phe Val Pro Leu Leu 1090 1095 1100 gct gcc cct cag gac ccc tgc tac gtg gag aaa acc tcg gat aag gtt 3360 Ala Ala Pro Gln Asp Pro Cys Tyr Val Glu Lys Thr Ser Asp Lys Val 1105 1110 1115 1120 att gca gct gac tgc aaa agg gtc aca gtg ctg aag tat ttt ctg gaa 3408 Ile Ala Ala Asp Cys Lys Arg Val Thr Val Leu Lys Tyr Phe Leu Glu 1125 1130 1135 gcc ctt tgt gga caa gaa gag cct ctg ctg gca ttc aag ggt gga aag 3456 Ala Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Glu Pro Leu Leu Ala Phe Lys Gly Gly Lys 1140 1145 1150 tat gtg tca gtg gca ccc gtc cca gac acc atg gga aag gaa atg gga 3504 Tyr Val Ser Val Ala Pro Val Pro Asp Thr Met Gly Lys Glu Met Gly 1155 1160 1165 agc caa gag gga aca cga ctg gaa gat gag gag gag gat gtg gtg att 3552 Ser Gln Glu Gly Thr Arg Leu Glu Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Val Val Ile 1170 1175 1180 gaa gac ttt gag gaa gat tca gag gct gaa ggc agc gga ggc gag gat 3600 Glu Asp Phe Glu Glu Asp Ser Glu Ala Glu Gly Ser Gly Gly Glu Asp 1185 1190 1195 1200 gac atc agg gag ctt cgg gcc aag aag ctg gct ctg gcc agg aag ata 3648 Asp Ile Arg Glu Leu Arg Ala Lys Lys Leu Ala Leu Ala Arg Lys Ile 1205 1210 1215 gct gag cag cag cgt cgc cag gaa aag atc cag gct gtc ctg gag gac 3696 Ala Glu Gln Gln Arg Arg Gln Glu Lys Ile Gln Ala Val Leu Glu Asp 1220 1225 1230 cac agt cag atg agg cag atg gag ctc gaa atc aga cct ttg ttc ctc 3744 His Ser Gln Met Arg Gln Met Glu Leu Glu Ile Arg Pro Leu Phe Leu 1235 1240 1245 gta cca gac acc aac ggc ttc att gac cac ctg gcc agt ctg gcg cgg 3792 Val Pro Asp Thr Asn Gly Phe Ile Asp His Leu Ala Ser Leu Ala Arg 1250 1255 1260 ctg ctg gag agc agg aag tac atc ctg gtg gtg ccc ctc atc gtg atc 3840 Leu Leu Glu Ser Arg Lys Tyr Ile Leu Val Val Pro Leu Ile Val Ile 1265 1270 1275 1280 aat gag ctg gac ggc ctg gcc aag ggg cag gag aca gac cac cgg gct 3888 Asn Glu Leu Asp Gly Leu Ala Lys Gly Gln Glu Thr Asp His Arg Ala 1285 1290 1295 ggg ggc tac gcc cgt gtg gta caa gag aag gcc cgc aag tcc atc gag 3936 Gly Gly Tyr Ala Arg Val Val Gln Glu Lys Ala Arg Lys Ser Ile Glu 1300 1305 1310 ttc ctc gag cag cga ttc gag agt cgg gac tct tgc ctg cga gcc ctg 3984 Phe Leu Glu Gln Arg Phe Glu Ser Arg Asp Ser Cys Leu Arg Ala Leu 1315 1320 1325 acc agc cgt ggc aat gaa ctc gaa tcc atc gcc ttc cgc agt gag gac 4032 Thr Ser Arg Gly Asn Glu Leu Glu Ser Ile Ala Phe Arg Ser Glu Asp 1330 1335 1340 atc act ggc cag ctg ggt aac aac gat gat ctc atc ctg tcc tgc tgc 4080 Ile Thr Gly Gln Leu Gly Asn Asn Asp Asp Leu Ile Leu Ser Cys Cys 1345 1350 1355 1360 ctc cac tac tgc aaa gac aag gct aag gac ttc atg ccc gcc agc aaa 4128 Leu His Tyr Cys Lys Asp Lys Ala Lys Asp Phe Met Pro Ala Ser Lys 1365 1370 1375 gag gag cca atc cgg cta ctg cgg gag gtg gtg ctg ttg acg gat gac 4176 Glu Glu Pro Ile Arg Leu Leu Arg Glu Val Val Leu Leu Thr Asp Asp 1380 1385 1390 cgg aac ctg cgt gtg aag gcg ctc aca agg aat gtt cct gta cgg gac 4224 Arg Asn Leu Arg Val Lys Ala Leu Thr Arg Asn Val Pro Val Arg Asp 1395 1400 1405 atc cca gcc ttc ctc acg tgg gcc cag gtg ggc tga 4260 Ile Pro Ala Phe Leu Thr Trp Ala Gln Val Gly 1410 1415 2 1419 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Ala Glu Gly Leu Glu Arg Val Arg Ile Ser Ala Ser Glu Leu Arg 1 5 10 15 Gly Ile Leu Ala Thr Leu Ala Pro Gln Ala Gly Ser Arg Glu Asn Met 20 25 30 Lys Glu Leu Lys Glu Ala Arg Pro Arg Lys Asp Asn Arg Arg Pro Asp 35 40 45 Leu Glu Ile Tyr Lys Pro Gly Leu Ser Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Pro Lys 50 55 60 Ile Lys Glu Pro Pro Gly Ser Glu Glu Phe Lys Asp Glu Ile Val Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Arg Asp Cys Ser Ala Val Glu Asn Gly Thr Gln Pro Val Lys Asp 85 90 95 Val Cys Lys Glu Leu Asn Asn Gln Glu Gln Asn Gly Pro Ile Asp Pro 100 105 110 Glu Asn Asn Arg Gly Gln Glu Ser Phe Pro Arg Thr Ala Gly Gln Glu 115 120 125 Asp Arg Ser Leu Lys Ile Ile Lys Arg Thr Lys Lys Pro Asp Leu Gln 130 135 140 Ile Tyr Gln Pro Gly Arg Arg Leu Gln Thr Val Ser Lys Glu Ser Ala 145 150 155 160 Ser Arg Val Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Leu Asn Gln Val Glu Gln Leu Arg 165 170 175 Val Glu Glu Asp Glu Cys Arg Gly Asn Val Ala Lys Glu Glu Val Ala 180 185 190 Asn Lys Pro Asp Arg Ala Glu Ile Glu Lys Ser Pro Gly Gly Gly Arg 195 200 205 Val Gly Ala Ala Lys Gly Glu Lys Gly Lys Arg Met Gly Lys Gly Glu 210 215 220 Gly Val Arg Glu Thr His Asp Asp Pro Ala Arg Gly Arg Pro Gly Ser 225 230 235 240 Ala Lys Arg Tyr Ser Arg Ser Asp Lys Arg Arg Asn Arg Tyr Arg Thr 245 250 255 Arg Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Gly Ser Asn Asn Ser Ala Glu Gly Ala Gly 260 265 270 Leu Thr Asp Asn Gly Cys Arg Arg Arg Arg Gln Asp Arg Thr Lys Glu 275 280 285 Arg Pro Arg Leu Lys Gln Gln Val Ser Val Ser Ser Thr Asp Ser Leu 290 295 300 Asp Glu Asp Arg Ile Asp Glu Pro Asp Gly Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg Ser 305 310 315 320 Ser Glu Arg Lys Arg His Leu Glu Arg Asn Trp Ser Gly Arg Gly Glu 325 330 335 Gly Glu Gln Lys Thr Ser Ala Lys Glu Tyr Arg Gly Thr Leu Arg Val 340 345 350 Thr Phe Asp Ala Glu Ala Met Asn Lys Glu Ser Pro Met Val Arg Ser 355 360 365 Ala Arg Asp Asp Met Asp Arg Gly Lys Pro Asp Lys Gly Leu Ser Ser 370 375 380 Gly Gly Lys Gly Ser Glu Lys Gln Glu Ser Lys Asn Pro Lys Gln Glu 385 390 395 400 Leu Arg Gly Arg Gly Arg Gly Ile Leu Ile Leu Pro Ala His Thr Thr 405 410 415 Leu Ser Val Asn Ser Ala Gly Ser Pro Glu Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Pro 420 425 430 Arg Leu Leu Phe Gly Ser Gly Ser Lys Gly Ser Arg Ser Trp Gly Arg 435 440 445 Gly Gly Thr Thr Arg Arg Leu Trp Asp Pro Asn Asn Pro Asp Gln Lys 450 455 460 Pro Ala Leu Lys Thr His Thr Pro Gln Leu His Phe Leu Asp Thr Asp 465 470 475 480 Asp Glu Val Ser Pro Thr Ser Trp Gly Asp Ser Arg Gln Ala Gln Ala 485 490 495 Ser Tyr Tyr Lys Phe Gln Asn Ser Asp Asn Pro Tyr Tyr Tyr Pro Arg 500 505 510 Thr Pro Gly Pro Ala Ser Gln Tyr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Tyr Asn Pro Leu 515 520 525 Gln Tyr Pro Val Gly Pro Thr Asn Gly Val Tyr Pro Gly Pro Tyr Tyr 530 535 540 Pro Gly Tyr Pro Thr Pro Ser Gly Gln Tyr Val Cys Ser Pro Leu Pro 545 550 555 560 Thr Ser Thr Met Ser Pro Glu Glu Val Glu Gln His Met Arg Asn Leu 565 570 575 Gln Gln Gln Glu Leu His Arg Leu Leu Arg Val Ala Asp Asn Gln Glu 580 585 590 Leu Gln Leu Ser Asn Leu Leu Ser Arg Asp Arg Ile Ser Pro Glu Gly 595 600 605 Leu Glu Lys Met Ala Gln Leu Arg Ala Glu Leu Leu Gln Leu Tyr Glu 610 615 620 Arg Cys Ile Leu Leu Asp Ile Glu Phe Ser Asp Asn Gln Asn Val Asp 625 630 635 640 Gln Ile Leu Trp Lys Asn Ala Phe Tyr Gln Val Ile Glu Lys Phe Arg 645 650 655 Gln Leu Val Lys Asp Pro Asn Val Glu Asn Pro Glu Gln Ile Arg Asn 660 665 670 Arg Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Asp Glu Gly Ser Asp Phe Phe Asp Ser Leu 675 680 685 Leu Gln Lys Leu Gln Val Thr Tyr Lys Phe Lys Leu Glu Asp Tyr Met 690 695 700 Asp Gly Leu Ala Ile Arg Ser Lys Pro Leu Arg Lys Thr Val Lys Tyr 705 710 715 720 Ala Leu Ile Ser Ala Gln Arg Cys Met Ile Cys Gln Gly Asp Ile Ala 725 730 735 Arg Tyr Arg Glu Gln Ala Ser Asp Thr Ala Asn Tyr Gly Lys Ala Arg 740 745 750 Ser Trp Tyr Leu Lys Ala Gln His Ile Ala Pro Lys Asn Gly Arg Pro 755 760 765 Tyr Asn Gln Leu Ala Leu Leu Ala Val Tyr Thr Arg Arg Lys Leu Asp 770 775 780 Ala Val Tyr Tyr Tyr Met Arg Ser Leu Ala Ala Ser Asn Pro Ile Leu 785 790 795 800 Thr Ala Lys Glu Ser Leu Met Ser Leu Phe Glu Glu Thr Lys Arg Lys 805 810 815 Ala Glu Gln Met Glu Lys Lys Gln His Glu Glu Phe Asp Leu Ser Pro 820 825 830 Asp Gln Trp Arg Lys Gly Lys Lys Ser Thr Phe Arg His Val Gly Asp 835 840 845 Asp Thr Thr Arg Leu Glu Ile Trp Ile His Pro Ser His Pro Arg Ser 850 855 860 Ser Gln Gly Thr Glu Ser Gly Lys Asp Ser Glu Gln Glu Asn Gly Leu 865 870 875 880 Gly Ser Leu Ser Pro Ser Asp Leu Asn Lys Arg Phe Ile Leu Ser Phe 885 890 895 Leu His Ala His Gly Lys Leu Phe Thr Arg Ile Gly Met Glu Thr Phe 900 905 910 Pro Ala Val Ala Glu Lys Val Leu Lys Glu Phe Gln Val Leu Leu Gln 915 920 925 His Ser Pro Ser Pro Ile Gly Ser Thr Arg Met Leu Gln Leu Met Thr 930 935 940 Ile Asn Met Phe Ala Val His Asn Ser Gln Leu Lys Asp Cys Phe Ser 945 950 955 960 Glu Glu Cys Arg Ser Val Ile Gln Glu Gln Ala Ala Ala Leu Gly Leu 965 970 975 Ala Met Phe Ser Leu Leu Val Arg Arg Cys Thr Cys Leu Leu Lys Glu 980 985 990 Ser Ala Lys Ala Gln Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Asp Gln Asp Asp Gln Asp 995 1000 1005 Asp Ile Lys Val Ser Ser Phe Val Pro Asp Leu Lys Glu Leu Leu Pro 1010 1015 1020 Ser Val Lys Val Trp Ser Asp Trp Met Leu Gly Tyr Pro Asp Thr Trp 1025 1030 1035 1040 Asn Pro Pro Pro Thr Ser Leu Asp Leu Pro Ser His Val Ala Val Asp 1045 1050 1055 Val Trp Ser Thr Leu Ala Asp Phe Cys Asn Ile Leu Thr Ala Val Asn 1060 1065 1070 Gln Ser Glu Val Pro Leu Tyr Lys Asp Pro Asp Asp Asp Leu Thr Leu 1075 1080 1085 Leu Ile Leu Glu Glu Asp Arg Leu Leu Ser Gly Phe Val Pro Leu Leu 1090 1095 1100 Ala Ala Pro Gln Asp Pro Cys Tyr Val Glu Lys Thr Ser Asp Lys Val 1105 1110 1115 1120 Ile Ala Ala Asp Cys Lys Arg Val Thr Val Leu Lys Tyr Phe Leu Glu 1125 1130 1135 Ala Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Glu Pro Leu Leu Ala Phe Lys Gly Gly Lys 1140 1145 1150 Tyr Val Ser Val Ala Pro Val Pro Asp Thr Met Gly Lys Glu Met Gly 1155 1160 1165 Ser Gln Glu Gly Thr Arg Leu Glu Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Val Val Ile 1170 1175 1180 Glu Asp Phe Glu Glu Asp Ser Glu Ala Glu Gly Ser Gly Gly Glu Asp 1185 1190 1195 1200 Asp Ile Arg Glu Leu Arg Ala Lys Lys Leu Ala Leu Ala Arg Lys Ile 1205 1210 1215 Ala Glu Gln Gln Arg Arg Gln Glu Lys Ile Gln Ala Val Leu Glu Asp 1220 1225 1230 His Ser Gln Met Arg Gln Met Glu Leu Glu Ile Arg Pro Leu Phe Leu 1235 1240 1245 Val Pro Asp Thr Asn Gly Phe Ile Asp His Leu Ala Ser Leu Ala Arg 1250 1255 1260 Leu Leu Glu Ser Arg Lys Tyr Ile Leu Val Val Pro Leu Ile Val Ile 1265 1270 1275 1280 Asn Glu Leu Asp Gly Leu Ala Lys Gly Gln Glu Thr Asp His Arg Ala 1285 1290 1295 Gly Gly Tyr Ala Arg Val Val Gln Glu Lys Ala Arg Lys Ser Ile Glu 1300 1305 1310 Phe Leu Glu Gln Arg Phe Glu Ser Arg Asp Ser Cys Leu Arg Ala Leu 1315 1320 1325 Thr Ser Arg Gly Asn Glu Leu Glu Ser Ile Ala Phe Arg Ser Glu Asp 1330 1335 1340 Ile Thr Gly Gln Leu Gly Asn Asn Asp Asp Leu Ile Leu Ser Cys Cys 1345 1350 1355 1360 Leu His Tyr Cys Lys Asp Lys Ala Lys Asp Phe Met Pro Ala Ser Lys 1365 1370 1375 Glu Glu Pro Ile Arg Leu Leu Arg Glu Val Val Leu Leu Thr Asp Asp 1380 1385 1390 Arg Asn Leu Arg Val Lys Ala Leu Thr Arg Asn Val Pro Val Arg Asp 1395 1400 1405 Ile Pro Ala Phe Leu Thr Trp Ala Gln Val Gly 1410 1415 3 3051 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(3051) 3 atg agc caa ggc ccc cct aca ggg gag agc agc gag ccc gaa gca aaa 48 Met Ser Gln Gly Pro Pro Thr Gly Glu Ser Ser Glu Pro Glu Ala Lys 1 5 10 15 gtc ctc cac act aag cgg ctt tac cgg gct gtg gtg gag gct gtg cat 96 Val Leu His Thr Lys Arg Leu Tyr Arg Ala Val Val Glu Ala Val His 20 25 30 cga ctt gac ctc atc ctt tgc aac aaa act gct tat caa gaa gta ttc 144 Arg Leu Asp Leu Ile Leu Cys Asn Lys Thr Ala Tyr Gln Glu Val Phe 35 40 45 aaa cca gaa aac att agc ctg agg aac aag ctg cgt gag ctc tgc gtc 192 Lys Pro Glu Asn Ile Ser Leu Arg Asn Lys Leu Arg Glu Leu Cys Val 50 55 60 aag ctt atg ttc ctg cac cca gtg gac tat ggg aga aag gct gag gag 240 Lys Leu Met Phe Leu His Pro Val Asp Tyr Gly Arg Lys Ala Glu Glu 65 70 75 80 ctg ctg tgg aga aag gta tac tat gaa gtt atc cag ctt atc aag act 288 Leu Leu Trp Arg Lys Val Tyr Tyr Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Ile Lys Thr 85 90 95 aac aaa aag cac atc cac agc cgg agc act ttg gaa tgt gcc tac agg 336 Asn Lys Lys His Ile His Ser Arg Ser Thr Leu Glu Cys Ala Tyr Arg 100 105 110 acg cac ctg gtt gct ggt att ggc ttc tac cag cat ctc ctt ctc tat 384 Thr His Leu Val Ala Gly Ile Gly Phe Tyr Gln His Leu Leu Leu Tyr 115 120 125 atc cag tcc cac tac cag ctg gaa ctg cag tgc tgc atc gac tgg acc 432 Ile Gln Ser His Tyr Gln Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys Cys Ile Asp Trp Thr 130 135 140 cat gtc act gac ccc ctc ata gga tgc aag aag cca gtg tct gcc tca 480 His Val Thr Asp Pro Leu Ile Gly Cys Lys Lys Pro Val Ser Ala Ser 145 150 155 160 ggg aag gag atg gat tgg gca cag atg gca tgt cac cga tgt ctg gtg 528 Gly Lys Glu Met Asp Trp Ala Gln Met Ala Cys His Arg Cys Leu Val 165 170 175 tat ctg ggg gat ttg tcc cga tat cag aat gaa tta gct ggc gta gat 576 Tyr Leu Gly Asp Leu Ser Arg Tyr Gln Asn Glu Leu Ala Gly Val Asp 180 185 190 acc gag ctg cta gcc gag aga ttt tac tac caa gcc ctg tca gta gct 624 Thr Glu Leu Leu Ala Glu Arg Phe Tyr Tyr Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Ala 195 200 205 cct cag att gga atg ccc ttc aat cag ctg ggc acc ctg gca ggc agc 672 Pro Gln Ile Gly Met Pro Phe Asn Gln Leu Gly Thr Leu Ala Gly Ser 210 215 220 aag tac tat aat gtg gaa gcc atg tat tgc tac ctg cgc tgc atc cag 720 Lys Tyr Tyr Asn Val Glu Ala Met Tyr Cys Tyr Leu Arg Cys Ile Gln 225 230 235 240 tca gaa gtg tcc ttt gag gga gcc tat ggg aac ctc aag cgg ctg tat 768 Ser Glu Val Ser Phe Glu Gly Ala Tyr Gly Asn Leu Lys Arg Leu Tyr 245 250 255 gac aag gca gcc aaa atg tac cac caa ctg aag aag tgt gag act cgg 816 Asp Lys Ala Ala Lys Met Tyr His Gln Leu Lys Lys Cys Glu Thr Arg 260 265 270 aaa ctg tct cct ggc aaa aag cga tgt aaa gac att aaa agg ttg cta 864 Lys Leu Ser Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Cys Lys Asp Ile Lys Arg Leu Leu 275 280 285 gtg aac ttt atg tat ctg caa agc ctc cta cag ccc aaa agc agc tcc 912 Val Asn Phe Met Tyr Leu Gln Ser Leu Leu Gln Pro Lys Ser Ser Ser 290 295 300 gtg gac tca gag ctg acc tca ctt tgc cag tca gtc ctg gag gac ttc 960 Val Asp Ser Glu Leu Thr Ser Leu Cys Gln Ser Val Leu Glu Asp Phe 305 310 315 320 aac ctc tgc ctc ttc tac ctg ccc tcc tca ccc aac ctc agc ctg gcc 1008 Asn Leu Cys Leu Phe Tyr Leu Pro Ser Ser Pro Asn Leu Ser Leu Ala 325 330 335 agt gag gat gag gag gag tat gag agt gga tat gct ttc ctc ccg gac 1056 Ser Glu Asp Glu Glu Glu Tyr Glu Ser Gly Tyr Ala Phe Leu Pro Asp 340 345 350 ctt ctc atc ttt caa atg gtc atc atc tgc ctt atg tgt gtg cac agc 1104 Leu Leu Ile Phe Gln Met Val Ile Ile Cys Leu Met Cys Val His Ser 355 360 365 ttg gag aga gca gga tcc aag cag tac agt gca gcc att gcc ttc acc 1152 Leu Glu Arg Ala Gly Ser Lys Gln Tyr Ser Ala Ala Ile Ala Phe Thr 370 375 380 ctg gcc ctc ttt tcc cac ctc gtc aat cat gtc aac ata cgg ctg cag 1200 Leu Ala Leu Phe Ser His Leu Val Asn His Val Asn Ile Arg Leu Gln 385 390 395 400 gct gag ctg gaa gag ggc gag aat ccc gtc ccg gca ttc cag agt gat 1248 Ala Glu Leu Glu Glu Gly Glu Asn Pro Val Pro Ala Phe Gln Ser Asp 405 410 415 ggc aca gat gaa cca gag tcc aag gaa cct gtg gag aaa gag gag gag 1296 Gly Thr Asp Glu Pro Glu Ser Lys Glu Pro Val Glu Lys Glu Glu Glu 420 425 430 cca gat cct gag cct cct cct gta aca ccc caa gtg ggt gag ggc aga 1344 Pro Asp Pro Glu Pro Pro Pro Val Thr Pro Gln Val Gly Glu Gly Arg 435 440 445 aag agc cgt aag ttc tct cgc ctc tcc tgt ctc cgc cgt cgc cgc cac 1392 Lys Ser Arg Lys Phe Ser Arg Leu Ser Cys Leu Arg Arg Arg Arg His 450 455 460 cca ccc aaa gtt ggt gat gac agt gac ctg agt gaa ggc ttt gaa tcg 1440 Pro Pro Lys Val Gly Asp Asp Ser Asp Leu Ser Glu Gly Phe Glu Ser 465 470 475 480 gac tca agc cat gac tca gcc cgg gcc agt gag ggc tca gac agt ggc 1488 Asp Ser Ser His Asp Ser Ala Arg Ala Ser Glu Gly Ser Asp Ser Gly 485 490 495 tct gac aag agt ctt gaa ggt ggg gga acg gcc ttt gat gct gaa aca 1536 Ser Asp Lys Ser Leu Glu Gly Gly Gly Thr Ala Phe Asp Ala Glu Thr 500 505 510 gac tcg gaa atg aat agc cag gag tcc cga tca gac ttg gaa gat atg 1584 Asp Ser Glu Met Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser Arg Ser Asp Leu Glu Asp Met 515 520 525 gag gaa gag gag ggg aca cgg tca cca acc ctg gag ccc cct cgg ggc 1632 Glu Glu Glu Glu Gly Thr Arg Ser Pro Thr Leu Glu Pro Pro Arg Gly 530 535 540 aga tca gag gct ccc gat tcc ctc aat ggc cca ctg ggc ccc agt gag 1680 Arg Ser Glu Ala Pro Asp Ser Leu Asn Gly Pro Leu Gly Pro Ser Glu 545 550 555 560 gct agc att gcc agc aat cta caa gcc atg tcc acc cag atg ttc cag 1728 Ala Ser Ile Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Ala Met Ser Thr Gln Met Phe Gln 565 570 575 act aag cgc tgc ttc cga ctg gcc ccc acc ttt agc aac ctg ctc ctc 1776 Thr Lys Arg Cys Phe Arg Leu Ala Pro Thr Phe Ser Asn Leu Leu Leu 580 585 590 cag ccc acc acc aac cct cat acc tcg gcc agc cac agg cct tgc gtc 1824 Gln Pro Thr Thr Asn Pro His Thr Ser Ala Ser His Arg Pro Cys Val 595 600 605 aat ggg gat gta gac aag cct tca gag cca gcc tct gag gag ggc tct 1872 Asn Gly Asp Val Asp Lys Pro Ser Glu Pro Ala Ser Glu Glu Gly Ser 610 615 620 gag tcg gag ggg agt gag tcc agt gga cgc tcc tgt cgg aat gag cgc 1920 Glu Ser Glu Gly Ser Glu Ser Ser Gly Arg Ser Cys Arg Asn Glu Arg 625 630 635 640 agc atc cag gag aag ctt cag gtc ctg atg gcc gaa ggt ctg ctt cct 1968 Ser Ile Gln Glu Lys Leu Gln Val Leu Met Ala Glu Gly Leu Leu Pro 645 650 655 gct gtg aaa gtc ttc ctg gac tgg ctt cgg acc aac ccc gac ctc atc 2016 Ala Val Lys Val Phe Leu Asp Trp Leu Arg Thr Asn Pro Asp Leu Ile 660 665 670 atc gtg tgt gca cag agc tct caa agt ctg tgg aac cgc ctg tct gtg 2064 Ile Val Cys Ala Gln Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Trp Asn Arg Leu Ser Val 675 680 685 ttg ctg aat ctg ttg cct gct gct ggt gaa ctc cag gag tct ggc ctg 2112 Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Pro Ala Ala Gly Glu Leu Gln Glu Ser Gly Leu 690 695 700 gcc ttg tgt cct gag gtc caa gat ctt ctt gaa ggt tgt gaa ctg cct 2160 Ala Leu Cys Pro Glu Val Gln Asp Leu Leu Glu Gly Cys Glu Leu Pro 705 710 715 720 gac ctc ccc tct agc ctt ctg ctc cca gag gac atg gct ctt cgt aac 2208 Asp Leu Pro Ser Ser Leu Leu Leu Pro Glu Asp Met Ala Leu Arg Asn 725 730 735 ctg ccc ccg ctc cga gct gcc cac aga cgc ttt aac ttt gac acg gat 2256 Leu Pro Pro Leu Arg Ala Ala His Arg Arg Phe Asn Phe Asp Thr Asp 740 745 750 cgg ccc ctg ctc agc acc tta gag gag tca gtg gtg cgc atc tgc tgc 2304 Arg Pro Leu Leu Ser Thr Leu Glu Glu Ser Val Val Arg Ile Cys Cys 755 760 765 atc cgc agc ttt ggt cat ttc atc gcc cgc ctg caa ggc agc atc ctg 2352 Ile Arg Ser Phe Gly His Phe Ile Ala Arg Leu Gln Gly Ser Ile Leu 770 775 780 cag ttc aac cca gag gtt ggc atc ttc gtc agc att gcc cag tct gag 2400 Gln Phe Asn Pro Glu Val Gly Ile Phe Val Ser Ile Ala Gln Ser Glu 785 790 795 800 cag gag agc ctg ctg cag cag gcc cag gca cag ttc cga atg gca cag 2448 Gln Glu Ser Leu Leu Gln Gln Ala Gln Ala Gln Phe Arg Met Ala Gln 805 810 815 gag gaa gct cgt cgg aac agg ctc atg aga gac atg gct cag cta cga 2496 Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg Asn Arg Leu Met Arg Asp Met Ala Gln Leu Arg 820 825 830 ctt cag ctc gaa gtg tct cag ctg gag ggc agc ctg cag cag ccc aag 2544 Leu Gln Leu Glu Val Ser Gln Leu Glu Gly Ser Leu Gln Gln Pro Lys 835 840 845 gcc cag tca gcc atg tct ccc tac ctc gtc cct gac acc cag gcc ctc 2592 Ala Gln Ser Ala Met Ser Pro Tyr Leu Val Pro Asp Thr Gln Ala Leu 850 855 860 tgc cac cat ctc cct gtc atc cgc caa ctg gcc acc agt ggc cgc ttc 2640 Cys His His Leu Pro Val Ile Arg Gln Leu Ala Thr Ser Gly Arg Phe 865 870 875 880 att gtc atc atc cca agg aca gtg atc gat ggc ctg gat ttg ctg aag 2688 Ile Val Ile Ile Pro Arg Thr Val Ile Asp Gly Leu Asp Leu Leu Lys 885 890 895 aag gaa cac cca ggg gcc cgg gat ggg att cgg tac ctg gag gca gag 2736 Lys Glu His Pro Gly Ala Arg Asp Gly Ile Arg Tyr Leu Glu Ala Glu 900 905 910 ttt aaa aaa gga aac agg tac att cgc tgc cag aaa gag gtg gga aag 2784 Phe Lys Lys Gly Asn Arg Tyr Ile Arg Cys Gln Lys Glu Val Gly Lys 915 920 925 agc ttt gag cgg cat aag ctg aag agg cag gat gca gat gcc tgg act 2832 Ser Phe Glu Arg His Lys Leu Lys Arg Gln Asp Ala Asp Ala Trp Thr 930 935 940 ctc tat aag atc cta gac agc tgc aaa cag ctg act ctg gcc cag ggg 2880 Leu Tyr Lys Ile Leu Asp Ser Cys Lys Gln Leu Thr Leu Ala Gln Gly 945 950 955 960 gca ggt gag gag gat ccg agt ggc atg gtg acc atc atc aca ggc ctt 2928 Ala Gly Glu Glu Asp Pro Ser Gly Met Val Thr Ile Ile Thr Gly Leu 965 970 975 cca ctg gac aac ccc agc gtg ctt tca ggc ccc atg cag gca gcc ctg 2976 Pro Leu Asp Asn Pro Ser Val Leu Ser Gly Pro Met Gln Ala Ala Leu 980 985 990 cag gcc gct gcc cac gcc agt gtg gac atc aag aat gtt ctg gac ttc 3024 Gln Ala Ala Ala His Ala Ser Val Asp Ile Lys Asn Val Leu Asp Phe 995 1000 1005 tac aag cag tgg aag gaa att ggt tga 3051 Tyr Lys Gln Trp Lys Glu Ile Gly 1010 1015 4 1016 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Ser Gln Gly Pro Pro Thr Gly Glu Ser Ser Glu Pro Glu Ala Lys 1 5 10 15 Val Leu His Thr Lys Arg Leu Tyr Arg Ala Val Val Glu Ala Val His 20 25 30 Arg Leu Asp Leu Ile Leu Cys Asn Lys Thr Ala Tyr Gln Glu Val Phe 35 40 45 Lys Pro Glu Asn Ile Ser Leu Arg Asn Lys Leu Arg Glu Leu Cys Val 50 55 60 Lys Leu Met Phe Leu His Pro Val Asp Tyr Gly Arg Lys Ala Glu Glu 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Trp Arg Lys Val Tyr Tyr Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Ile Lys Thr 85 90 95 Asn Lys Lys His Ile His Ser Arg Ser Thr Leu Glu Cys Ala Tyr Arg 100 105 110 Thr His Leu Val Ala Gly Ile Gly Phe Tyr Gln His Leu Leu Leu Tyr 115 120 125 Ile Gln Ser His Tyr Gln Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys Cys Ile Asp Trp Thr 130 135 140 His Val Thr Asp Pro Leu Ile Gly Cys Lys Lys Pro Val Ser Ala Ser 145 150 155 160 Gly Lys Glu Met Asp Trp Ala Gln Met Ala Cys His Arg Cys Leu Val 165 170 175 Tyr Leu Gly Asp Leu Ser Arg Tyr Gln Asn Glu Leu Ala Gly Val Asp 180 185 190 Thr Glu Leu Leu Ala Glu Arg Phe Tyr Tyr Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Ala 195 200 205 Pro Gln Ile Gly Met Pro Phe Asn Gln Leu Gly Thr Leu Ala Gly Ser 210 215 220 Lys Tyr Tyr Asn Val Glu Ala Met Tyr Cys Tyr Leu Arg Cys Ile Gln 225 230 235 240 Ser Glu Val Ser Phe Glu Gly Ala Tyr Gly Asn Leu Lys Arg Leu Tyr 245 250 255 Asp Lys Ala Ala Lys Met Tyr His Gln Leu Lys Lys Cys Glu Thr Arg 260 265 270 Lys Leu Ser Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Cys Lys Asp Ile Lys Arg Leu Leu 275 280 285 Val Asn Phe Met Tyr Leu Gln Ser Leu Leu Gln Pro Lys Ser Ser Ser 290 295 300 Val Asp Ser Glu Leu Thr Ser Leu Cys Gln Ser Val Leu Glu Asp Phe 305 310 315 320 Asn Leu Cys Leu Phe Tyr Leu Pro Ser Ser Pro Asn Leu Ser Leu Ala 325 330 335 Ser Glu Asp Glu Glu Glu Tyr Glu Ser Gly Tyr Ala Phe Leu Pro Asp 340 345 350 Leu Leu Ile Phe Gln Met Val Ile Ile Cys Leu Met Cys Val His Ser 355 360 365 Leu Glu Arg Ala Gly Ser Lys Gln Tyr Ser Ala Ala Ile Ala Phe Thr 370 375 380 Leu Ala Leu Phe Ser His Leu Val Asn His Val Asn Ile Arg Leu Gln 385 390 395 400 Ala Glu Leu Glu Glu Gly Glu Asn Pro Val Pro Ala Phe Gln Ser Asp 405 410 415 Gly Thr Asp Glu Pro Glu Ser Lys Glu Pro Val Glu Lys Glu Glu Glu 420 425 430 Pro Asp Pro Glu Pro Pro Pro Val Thr Pro Gln Val Gly Glu Gly Arg 435 440 445 Lys Ser Arg Lys Phe Ser Arg Leu Ser Cys Leu Arg Arg Arg Arg His 450 455 460 Pro Pro Lys Val Gly Asp Asp Ser Asp Leu Ser Glu Gly Phe Glu Ser 465 470 475 480 Asp Ser Ser His Asp Ser Ala Arg Ala Ser Glu Gly Ser Asp Ser Gly 485 490 495 Ser Asp Lys Ser Leu Glu Gly Gly Gly Thr Ala Phe Asp Ala Glu Thr 500 505 510 Asp Ser Glu Met Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser Arg Ser Asp Leu Glu Asp Met 515 520 525 Glu Glu Glu Glu Gly Thr Arg Ser Pro Thr Leu Glu Pro Pro Arg Gly 530 535 540 Arg Ser Glu Ala Pro Asp Ser Leu Asn Gly Pro Leu Gly Pro Ser Glu 545 550 555 560 Ala Ser Ile Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Ala Met Ser Thr Gln Met Phe Gln 565 570 575 Thr Lys Arg Cys Phe Arg Leu Ala Pro Thr Phe Ser Asn Leu Leu Leu 580 585 590 Gln Pro Thr Thr Asn Pro His Thr Ser Ala Ser His Arg Pro Cys Val 595 600 605 Asn Gly Asp Val Asp Lys Pro Ser Glu Pro Ala Ser Glu Glu Gly Ser 610 615 620 Glu Ser Glu Gly Ser Glu Ser Ser Gly Arg Ser Cys Arg Asn Glu Arg 625 630 635 640 Ser Ile Gln Glu Lys Leu Gln Val Leu Met Ala Glu Gly Leu Leu Pro 645 650 655 Ala Val Lys Val Phe Leu Asp Trp Leu Arg Thr Asn Pro Asp Leu Ile 660 665 670 Ile Val Cys Ala Gln Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Trp Asn Arg Leu Ser Val 675 680 685 Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Pro Ala Ala Gly Glu Leu Gln Glu Ser Gly Leu 690 695 700 Ala Leu Cys Pro Glu Val Gln Asp Leu Leu Glu Gly Cys Glu Leu Pro 705 710 715 720 Asp Leu Pro Ser Ser Leu Leu Leu Pro Glu Asp Met Ala Leu Arg Asn 725 730 735 Leu Pro Pro Leu Arg Ala Ala His Arg Arg Phe Asn Phe Asp Thr Asp 740 745 750 Arg Pro Leu Leu Ser Thr Leu Glu Glu Ser Val Val Arg Ile Cys Cys 755 760 765 Ile Arg Ser Phe Gly His Phe Ile Ala Arg Leu Gln Gly Ser Ile Leu 770 775 780 Gln Phe Asn Pro Glu Val Gly Ile Phe Val Ser Ile Ala Gln Ser Glu 785 790 795 800 Gln Glu Ser Leu Leu Gln Gln Ala Gln Ala Gln Phe Arg Met Ala Gln 805 810 815 Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg Asn Arg Leu Met Arg Asp Met Ala Gln Leu Arg 820 825 830 Leu Gln Leu Glu Val Ser Gln Leu Glu Gly Ser Leu Gln Gln Pro Lys 835 840 845 Ala Gln Ser Ala Met Ser Pro Tyr Leu Val Pro Asp Thr Gln Ala Leu 850 855 860 Cys His His Leu Pro Val Ile Arg Gln Leu Ala Thr Ser Gly Arg Phe 865 870 875 880 Ile Val Ile Ile Pro Arg Thr Val Ile Asp Gly Leu Asp Leu Leu Lys 885 890 895 Lys Glu His Pro Gly Ala Arg Asp Gly Ile Arg Tyr Leu Glu Ala Glu 900 905 910 Phe Lys Lys Gly Asn Arg Tyr Ile Arg Cys Gln Lys Glu Val Gly Lys 915 920 925 Ser Phe Glu Arg His Lys Leu Lys Arg Gln Asp Ala Asp Ala Trp Thr 930 935 940 Leu Tyr Lys Ile Leu Asp Ser Cys Lys Gln Leu Thr Leu Ala Gln Gly 945 950 955 960 Ala Gly Glu Glu Asp Pro Ser Gly Met Val Thr Ile Ile Thr Gly Leu 965 970 975 Pro Leu Asp Asn Pro Ser Val Leu Ser Gly Pro Met Gln Ala Ala Leu 980 985 990 Gln Ala Ala Ala His Ala Ser Val Asp Ile Lys Asn Val Leu Asp Phe 995 1000 1005 Tyr Lys Gln Trp Lys Glu Ile Gly 1010 1015 5 1265 PRT Homo sapiens MOD_RES (1) Variable amino acid 5 Xaa Cys Leu Lys Pro Phe Tyr Leu Met Arg Asn Trp Met Phe Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Ile Val Ile Val Gly Glu Asn Val Ser Phe Lys Ser Gln Met Arg Thr 20 25 30 Glu Asn Leu Lys Ser Glu Glu His Leu Lys Ser Ser Asn Ile Arg Gln 35 40 45 Ala Glu Val Leu Lys Ala Asp Met Thr Asp Ser Lys Leu Gly Pro Ala 50 55 60 Glu Val Trp Thr Ser Arg Gln Ala Leu Gln Asp Leu Tyr Gln Lys Met 65 70 75 80 Leu Val Thr Asp Leu Glu Tyr Ala Leu Asp Lys Lys Val Glu Gln Asp 85 90 95 Leu Trp Asn His Ala Phe Lys Asn Gln Ile Thr Thr Leu Gln Gly Gln 100 105 110 Ala Lys Asn Arg Ala Asn Pro Asn Arg Ser Glu Val Gln Ala Asn Leu 115 120 125 Ser Leu Phe Leu Glu Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Tyr Thr Gln Leu Leu Gln 130 135 140 Glu Leu Cys Thr Val Phe Asn Val Asp Leu Pro Cys Arg Val Lys Ser 145 150 155 160 Ser Gln Leu Gly Ile Ile Ser Asn Lys Gln Thr His Thr Ser Ala Ile 165 170 175 Val Lys Pro Gln Ser Ser Ser Cys Ser Tyr Ile Cys Gln His Cys Leu 180 185 190 Val His Leu Gly Asp Ile Ala Arg Tyr Arg Asn Gln Thr Ser Gln Ala 195 200 205 Glu Ser Tyr Tyr Arg His Ala Ala Gln Leu Val Pro Ser Asn Gly Gln 210 215 220 Pro Tyr Asn Gln Leu Ala Ile Leu Ala Ser Ser Lys Gly Asp His Leu 225 230 235 240 Thr Thr Ile Phe Tyr Tyr Cys Arg Ser Ile Ala Val Lys Phe Pro Phe 245 250 255 Pro Ala Ala Ser Thr Asn Leu Gln Lys Ala Leu Ser Lys Ala Leu Glu 260 265 270 Ser Arg Asp Glu Val Lys Thr Lys Trp Gly Val Ser Asp Phe Ile Lys 275 280 285 Ala Phe Ile Lys Phe His Gly His Val Tyr Leu Ser Lys Ser Leu Glu 290 295 300 Lys Leu Ser Pro Leu Arg Glu Lys Leu Glu Glu Gln Phe Lys Arg Leu 305 310 315 320 Leu Phe Gln Lys Ala Phe Asn Ser Gln Gln Leu Val His Val Thr Val 325 330 335 Ile Asn Leu Phe Gln Leu His His Leu Arg Asp Phe Ser Asn Glu Thr 340 345 350 Glu Gln His Thr Tyr Ser Gln Asp Glu Gln Leu Cys Trp Thr Gln Leu 355 360 365 Leu Ala Leu Phe Met Ser Phe Leu Gly Ile Leu Cys Lys Cys Pro Leu 370 375 380 Gln Asn Glu Ser Gln Glu Glu Ser Tyr Asn Ala Tyr Pro Leu Pro Ala 385 390 395 400 Val Lys Val Ser Met Asp Trp Leu Arg Leu Arg Pro Arg Val Phe Gln 405 410 415 Glu Ala Val Val Asp Glu Arg Gln Tyr Ile Trp Pro Trp Leu Ile Ser 420 425 430 Leu Leu Asn Ser Phe His Pro His Glu Glu Asp Leu Ser Ser Ile Ser 435 440 445 Gly His Gln Gly Ile Thr Gly Asp Lys Glu Gly Gln Gln Arg Arg Ile 450 455 460 Arg Gln Gln Arg Leu Ile Ser Ile Gly Lys Trp Ile Ala Asp Asn Gln 465 470 475 480 Pro Arg Leu Ile Gln Cys Glu Asn Glu Val Gly Lys Leu Leu Phe Ile 485 490 495 Thr Glu Ile Pro Glu Leu Ile Leu Glu Asp Pro Ser Glu Ala Lys Glu 500 505 510 Asn Leu Ile Leu Gln Glu Thr Ser Val Ile Glu Ser Leu Ala Ala Asp 515 520 525 Gly Ser Pro Gly Leu Lys Ser Val Leu Ser Thr Ser Arg Asn Leu Ser 530 535 540 Asn Asn Cys Asp Thr Gly Glu Lys Pro Val Val Thr Phe Lys Glu Asn 545 550 555 560 Ile Lys Thr Arg Glu Val Asn Arg Asp Gln Gly Arg Ser Phe Pro Pro 565 570 575 Lys Glu Val Arg Arg Asp Tyr Ser Lys Gly Ile Thr Val Thr Lys Asn 580 585 590 Asp Gly Lys Lys Asp Asn Asn Lys Arg Lys Thr Glu Thr Lys Lys Cys 595 600 605 Thr Leu Glu Lys Leu Gln Glu Thr Gly Lys Gln Asn Val Ala Val Gln 610 615 620 Val Lys Ser Gln Thr Glu Leu Arg Lys Thr Pro Val Ser Glu Ala Arg 625 630 635 640 Lys Thr Pro Val Thr Gln Thr Pro Thr Gln Ala Ser Asn Ser Gln Phe 645 650 655 Ile Pro Ile His His Pro Gly Ala Phe Pro Pro Leu Pro Ser Arg Pro 660 665 670 Gly Thr Phe Leu Gln Pro Thr Ala His Ser Pro Ala Gly Asn Gln Val 675 680 685 Gln Ala Gly Lys Gln Ser His Ile Pro Tyr Ser Gln Gln Arg Pro Ser 690 695 700 Gly Pro Gly Pro Met Asn Gln Gly Pro Gln Gln Ser Gln Pro Pro Ser 705 710 715 720 Gln Gln Pro Leu Thr Ser Leu Pro Ala Gln Pro Thr Ala Gln Ser Thr 725 730 735 Ser Gln Leu Gln Val Gln Ala Leu Thr Gln Gln Gln Gln Ser Pro Thr 740 745 750 Lys Ala Val Pro Ala Leu Gly Lys Ser Pro Pro His His Ser Gly Phe 755 760 765 Gln Gln Tyr Gln Gln Ala Asp Ala Ser Lys Gln Leu Trp Asn Pro Pro 770 775 780 Gln Val Gln Gly Pro Leu Gly Lys Ile Met Pro Val Lys Gln Pro Tyr 785 790 795 800 Tyr Leu Gln Thr Gln Asp Pro Ile Lys Leu Phe Glu Pro Ser Leu Gln 805 810 815 Pro Pro Val Met Gln Gln Gln Pro Leu Glu Lys Lys Met Lys Pro Phe 820 825 830 Pro Met Glu Pro Tyr Asn His Asn Pro Ser Glu Val Lys Val Pro Glu 835 840 845 Phe Tyr Trp Asp Ser Ser Tyr Ser Met Ala Asp Asn Arg Ser Val Met 850 855 860 Ala Gln Gln Ala Asn Ile Asp Arg Arg Gly Lys Arg Ser Pro Gly Val 865 870 875 880 Phe Arg Pro Glu Gln Asp Pro Val Pro Arg Met Pro Phe Glu Asp Pro 885 890 895 Lys Ser Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Pro Asp Leu Leu Lys Ser Leu Ala Ala 900 905 910 Leu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Leu Ile Phe Ser Asn Pro Pro Asp Leu Tyr 915 920 925 Pro Ala Leu Leu Gly Pro Leu Ala Ser Leu Pro Gly Arg Ser Leu Phe 930 935 940 Glu Arg Tyr Pro Asn Asn Ser Met Phe Asn Glu Val Tyr Gly Lys Asn 945 950 955 960 Leu Thr Ser Ser Ser Lys Ala Glu Leu Ser Pro Ser Met Ala Pro Gln 965 970 975 Glu Thr Ser Leu Tyr Ser Leu Phe Glu Gly Thr Pro Trp Ser Pro Ser 980 985 990 Leu Pro Ala Ser Ser Asp His Ser Thr Pro Ala Ser Gln Ser Pro His 995 1000 1005 Ser Ser Asn Pro Ser Ser Leu Pro Ser Ser Pro Pro Thr His Asn His 1010 1015 1020 Asn Ser Val Pro Phe Ser Asn Phe Gly Pro Ile Gly Thr Pro Asp Asn 1025 1030 1035 1040 Arg Asp Arg Arg Thr Ala Asp Arg Trp Lys Thr Asp Lys Pro Ala Met 1045 1050 1055 Gly Gly Phe Gly Ile Asp Tyr Leu Ser Ala Thr Ser Ser Ser Glu Ser 1060 1065 1070 Ser Trp His Gln Ala Ser Thr Pro Ser Gly Thr Trp Thr Gly His Gly 1075 1080 1085 Pro Ser Met Glu Asp Ser Ser Ala Val Leu Met Glu Ser Leu Lys Val 1090 1095 1100 Ser Arg Phe Gln Glu Gln Glu Pro Gln Asp Tyr Tyr Ser Lys Val Tyr 1105 1110 1115 1120 Leu Val Gln Phe His Asp Ala Ser Trp Thr Phe Cys Ser Gly Ala Ala 1125 1130 1135 Val Asn Ala Ala Glu Ala Glu Thr Ala Thr Gly Thr Arg His His Glu 1140 1145 1150 Pro Ser Thr Leu Arg Pro Lys Trp Gln Pro Gly Asn Glu Gly Ser Ile 1155 1160 1165 Asn His Gly Met Leu Gly Leu Gln Asp Trp Pro Thr Gln Ser Pro Ala 1170 1175 1180 Gly Gly Ser Pro Leu Phe Cys Phe Ser Leu Ser Arg Gly Cys Lys Tyr 1185 1190 1195 1200 Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Ser Val His Glu Met Phe Ala Val Gln Gln Lys 1205 1210 1215 Glu Lys Ser Ile Arg Asn Ser Pro Ser Pro Arg Gly Pro Pro Glu Gly 1220 1225 1230 Glu Arg Glu Glu Leu Leu Phe Ile Ser Leu Ser Tyr Leu Val Ser Pro 1235 1240 1245 Pro Leu Thr Phe Ser Ile Val His Val Pro Ser His Met Gly Ser Glu 1250 1255 1260 Ser 1265 6 172 PRT Homo sapiens 6 Met Thr Cys His His Cys Leu Leu Tyr Leu Arg Asp Leu Phe Cys Tyr 1 5 10 15 Gln Arg Glu Ile Leu Pro Leu Val Thr Lys Asn Leu Ala Glu Arg Cys 20 25 30 Tyr Tyr Arg Ala Leu Ser Val Ala Leu His Met Gly Met Pro Phe Asn 35 40 45 Leu Leu Gly Ala Ile Thr Gly Asn Lys Tyr His Asp Ile Glu Ser Met 50 55 60 Tyr Phe Tyr Gln His Trp Leu Tyr Ser Glu Val Pro Phe Lys Gly Ala 65 70 75 80 Ser Trp Ser Leu Lys Gly Leu Phe Asp His Ala Gly Lys Ser Ala Ser 85 90 95 Gly Ile Lys Tyr Lys Asp Asp Met Ser Ser Phe Phe Glu Leu Glu Pro 100 105 110 Pro Thr Gly Ser Tyr Leu Gly Gln Asn Ala Ser Ile Gly Gln Phe His 115 120 125 Asn Thr Leu Gln Thr Ile Lys Lys Lys Leu Lys Ile Leu Ser Val Gly 130 135 140 Gly Thr Ala Ala His His Gln Gly Asp Ala Trp Leu Ala Leu Cys Gln 145 150 155 160 Pro Gln Pro Pro Gln Leu Thr Leu Val Glu Ser Thr 165 170 7 40 PRT Homo sapiens 7 Lys Asp Lys Ala Lys Asp Phe Met Pro Ala Ser Lys Glu Glu Pro Ile 1 5 10 15 Arg Leu Leu Arg Glu Val Val Leu Leu Thr Asp Asp Arg Asn Leu Arg 20 25 30 Val Lys Ala Leu Thr Arg Asn Val 35 40 8 40 PRT Homo sapiens 8 Lys Ser Phe Glu Arg His Lys Leu Lys Arg Gln Asp Ala Asp Ala Trp 1 5 10 15 Thr Leu Tyr Lys Ile Leu Asp Ser Cys Lys Gln Leu Thr Leu Ala Gln 20 25 30 Gly Ala Gly Glu Glu Asp Pro Ser 35 40 9 207 PRT Saccharomyces cerevisiae 9 Val Ile Pro Leu Val Leu Lys Leu Leu Trp Leu Gln Ile His Glu Pro 1 5 10 15 Thr Leu Gln Trp Phe Glu His Trp Phe His Asp Ile Met Arg Leu Ser 20 25 30 Asn Arg Arg Lys Phe Arg Val Phe Arg Ile Phe Gln Lys Lys Met Ile 35 40 45 Gln Phe Phe Lys Ile Thr His Arg Tyr Tyr Tyr Asp Ile Ile Glu His 50 55 60 Ile Cys Ala Lys Tyr Asp Met Asn Ser Val Ile Ser Asn Ala Leu Phe 65 70 75 80 Ala Lys Leu Asn Leu Met Gln Tyr Thr Asp Gly Leu Ser Thr His Glu 85 90 95 Lys Ile Ile Leu Asn Thr Ser Asn Pro Leu Thr Phe Ser Ile Val Ile 100 105 110 Ser Leu Gln Arg Cys Val Ile Asn Leu Gly Ser Thr His Phe Tyr Lys 115 120 125 Thr Leu Leu Asn Lys Pro Ser Asn Lys Pro Lys Ser Val Glu Gly Phe 130 135 140 Glu Lys Ser Ile Arg Tyr Leu Asn Ile Ala Ser Leu Tyr Leu Pro Ala 145 150 155 160 Val Gly Asp Thr Tyr Phe Gln Arg Ala Lys Ile Tyr Leu Ile Thr Gly 165 170 175 Lys Phe Ser Leu Tyr Phe Phe Glu Leu Val Arg Gly Ala Leu Val Arg 180 185 190 Ile Pro Ser Lys Cys Ala Leu Asn Asn Leu Lys Asp Phe Ile Leu 195 200 205 10 213 PRT Saccharomyces cerevisiae 10 Ser Ile Ser Ser Ile Leu Asp Phe Ser Trp Glu Ser Val His Tyr Pro 1 5 10 15 Ile Phe Lys Trp Phe Gln Met Trp Arg Asn Tyr Ile Leu Phe Glu Lys 20 25 30 Glu Asn Lys Lys Gln Gln Thr Lys Phe Ile Asp Phe Arg Lys Met Asn 35 40 45 Ser Lys Met Leu Lys Phe Phe Lys Thr Val Gln Asn Phe Tyr Val Asn 50 55 60 Val Ile Asn Thr Val Tyr Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile Ser Val Leu Leu Pro 65 70 75 80 Lys Arg Ile Ile Gln Asp Leu Lys Leu Ser Asp Ile Glu Asn Thr Thr 85 90 95 Asn Val Gly Asp Ile Leu Ala Val Lys Thr Phe Asn Ser Ser Ser Pro 100 105 110 Leu Ala His Leu Ile Pro Thr Leu Phe His Arg Cys Leu Leu Phe Leu 115 120 125 Gly Thr Ala Tyr Arg Tyr Lys Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile Ser Asn Lys 130 135 140 Tyr Ser Ile Ser Asn Phe Lys Lys Ser Leu Asp Phe Phe Arg Leu Ala 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Val Leu Pro Ser Ala Gly Glu Thr Tyr Ser Gln Ala Gly Ala 165 170 175 Ile Phe Leu Gln Thr Gly Asn Leu Gly Ile Ala Val Phe Asn Phe Val 180 185 190 Lys Gly Met Met Thr Lys Met Pro Ser Pro Val Ser Ile Lys Asn Phe 195 200 205 Gly Ala Leu Met Val 210 11 192 PRT Schizosaccharomyces pombe 11 Asp Ile Ile Trp Ser Cys Cys His Tyr Lys Ile Ile Gln His Phe Arg 1 5 10 15 Ser Arg Phe Arg Glu Ile His Pro Arg His Val Val Glu Lys Lys Lys 20 25 30 Thr Lys Lys Val Phe Phe Lys Phe Leu Lys Thr Cys Ala Ile Phe Tyr 35 40 45 Gln Thr Cys Ile Ser Glu Leu Ile Ser Lys Phe Gln Leu Asp Ser Tyr 50 55 60 Arg Pro Phe Phe Cys Lys Trp Thr Ser Ser Ala Thr Val Ser Ser Thr 65 70 75 80 Ile Ser Asn Asp Glu Met Ser Ser Ile Pro Glu Ala Ser Tyr Ser Arg 85 90 95 Asn His Met Glu Ala Leu Glu Cys Val Tyr Asn Cys Phe Ile Tyr Leu 100 105 110 Gly Asp Met Ala Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Cys Leu Lys Lys Arg Gly Ala 115 120 125 Tyr Asp Arg Ala Leu Gly Phe Tyr Asp Leu Ala His Arg Thr Leu Pro 130 135 140 Gly Asn Gly Met His Arg Asn Gln Ile Ala Val Val Trp Ala Ser Asp 145 150 155 160 Glu Cys Ile Val Glu Ser Ile Tyr Trp Phe Ser Ser Ala Leu Cys Ser 165 170 175 Glu Asp Pro Pro Lys Ser Ala Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Lys Gln Leu Ile 180 185 190 12 222 PRT Schizosaccharomyces pombe 12 Met Glu Lys Asp Val Leu Thr Tyr Leu Trp Met Arg Val His Tyr Gln 1 5 10 15 Val Ile Ser Phe Phe Lys His Arg Ile Tyr Glu Ala Ser Thr Gln His 20 25 30 Asp Pro Glu Leu Leu Ser Ser Leu Val Thr Met His Ile Gln Tyr Leu 35 40 45 Asn Ser Thr Ile Gln Phe Tyr Thr Thr Leu Ile Ala Ile Ile Gly Glu 50 55 60 Leu Tyr His Leu Gln Cys Leu Ser Pro Leu Thr Ser Phe Phe Thr Ser 65 70 75 80 Cys Val Thr Pro Lys Thr Ile Leu Glu Ser Pro Leu Arg Lys Gln Gly 85 90 95 Ser His Asn Trp Lys Thr Ser Thr Asn Ser Gln Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala 100 105 110 Leu Phe Ser Ser Ile Phe Glu Asp Ser Cys Leu Glu Val Asp Ser Val 115 120 125 Lys Arg Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Pro Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Pro Leu Lys 130 135 140 Lys Asp Ser Ser Ser Asn Ser Leu Thr Tyr Glu Pro Ala Leu Thr Asp 145 150 155 160 His Lys Pro Gln Tyr Leu Val Leu Cys Val Tyr Arg Ser Leu Ile Tyr 165 170 175 Ile Gly Asp Val His Arg Tyr Leu Ala Glu Val Arg Ser Pro Asn Val 180 185 190 Pro Asp Tyr Gln Val Ser Arg Arg Tyr Tyr Val Met Ala Ala Asn Val 195 200 205 Ala Pro Asp Tyr Gly Val His Phe His Gln Leu Gly Leu Ile 210 215 220 13 77 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 13 Leu Leu Arg Met Gly Asp Leu Met Arg Tyr Lys Glu Asn Tyr Pro Lys 1 5 10 15 Ala Gln Glu Tyr Tyr Glu Gln Ser Cys Arg Ile Asn Pro Ala Asp Gly 20 25 30 Ala Val Trp Asn Gln Leu Gly Leu Ile Ser Ser Leu Gly Ala Lys Asn 35 40 45 Leu Glu Ser Val Tyr Phe His Thr Arg Ala Leu His Ala Thr Met Glu 50 55 60 Phe Pro Thr Ala Ser Gly Gly Leu Thr Asn Ile Phe Lys 65 70 75 14 204 PRT Drosophila melanogaster 14 Val Gly Lys Lys Val Arg Glu Val Met Trp Arg Arg Gly Tyr Tyr Glu 1 5 10 15 Phe Ile Ala Phe Val Lys Lys Asn Trp His Lys Gln Cys Gln Asp Ala 20 25 30 Ala Thr Ala Gln Glu Asn Met Gln Lys Leu Glu Arg Phe Leu Cys Ala 35 40 45 Gly Ile Phe Asn Tyr Lys Arg Leu Ser Ala Arg Met Glu Glu Ile Tyr 50 55 60 Asp Leu Asp Leu Lys Tyr Leu Ile Asp Phe Ser Ile Ile Ser Asp Gly 65 70 75 80 Tyr Ile Ser Asp Met Ile Gly Asp Thr Met Glu Ser Ser His Ser Gly 85 90 95 Thr His Ala Val Asp Lys Ser Leu Glu Ala Val Ser Phe Ala Leu Asp 100 105 110 Thr Ile His Ser Ser Leu Leu Ser Leu Gly Asp Leu His Arg Tyr Phe 115 120 125 Leu Asp Phe Arg Ile Asp Ser Lys Leu Ser Ile Ser Lys Glu Gln Val 130 135 140 Ala Lys Tyr Tyr Leu Glu Ala Phe Lys Leu Asn Pro Ala Ile Gly Met 145 150 155 160 Ala Gln Asn Gln Leu Gly Thr Leu His Tyr Gly Gln Asn His Asp Leu 165 170 175 Asp Ser Thr Tyr His Tyr Leu Tyr Ser Leu Val Cys Ile Ile Pro Phe 180 185 190 Glu Leu Ser Glu Asn Asn Leu Asn Lys Leu Phe Ala 195 200 

1. An isolated, enriched, purified or recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding for a protein having activity as a human telomerase activity modulator characterised in that it comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding for an amino acid sequence selected from those of SEQ ID No 2, SEQ ID No 4, SEQ ID No 5 and SEQ ID No 6 and sequences having at least 70% amino acid homology thereto and an active peptide fragment of any of these sequences.
 2. A nucleic acid as claimed in claim 1 encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No 2 or 4 or one that has 75% or more homology, more preferably 80% or more and still more preferably 90% or more to one of those sequences.
 3. A nucleic acid as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID No 1 or SEQ ID No 3 or which is capable of hybridising with nucleic acid having such a sequence under conditions of standard or high stringency.
 4. A nucleic acid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims encoding for a fragment of said protein characterised in that it is a C-terminally truncated fragment of said protein.
 5. A nucleic acid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that it encodes for a protein as described in any one of the preceding claims conjugated to other proteins, eg chromosome end capping proteins or peptides eg. such as cdc13, as fusion proteins.
 6. An isolated, enriched, purified or recombinantly produced protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No 2, SEQ ID No 4, SEQ ID no 5 and SEQ ID No 6 or a part of any of these, the protein or part thereof being effective to modulate the activity of telomerase in tumour cells in vivo or the ability of hTERT (human EST2) to extend telomere length in vitro.
 7. A protein or part as claimed in claim 6 as encoded by any one of the nucleic acids of claims 1 to
 5. 8. Antisense nucleic acid to nucleic acid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
 5. 9. Antisense nucleic acid as claimed in claim 8 characterised in that it is capable of downregulating expression of one or more of human EST1 gene products in vivo such that telomerase activity in a cell in which it is provided, particularly a tumour or precancerous cell, is reduced or eliminated.
 10. A method for screening for agents having mammalian telomerase modulating activity, in vivo or in vitro, comprising monitoring the interaction of a protein as claimed in claim 6 with one or more of said agents.
 11. A method for screening for agents having mammalian telomerase modulating activity, in vivo or in vitro, as claimed in claim 10, comprising determining whether the presence of one or more of said agent(s) modulates the interaction of the protein with one or more ligands selected from mammalian DNA, mammalian telomerase RNA and a protein essential to the elongation of mammalian telomeres.
 12. A method for screening for agents having mammalian telomerase modulating activity, in vivo or in vitro, as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that it comprises (i) placing hTERT and a protein of the second aspect together in an aqueous medium together with DNA, telomerase RNA and the suspect agent, (ii) monitoring the ability of the hTERT (human EST2) to produce or extend telomeres on the DNA, (iii) determining any modulation of the elongation of telomeres in response to the agent as compared to a control medium having hTERT, protein, DNA, telomerase RNA but lacking the agent and (iv) designating the agent as a suspected inhibitor or activator of telomerase activity or as inactive accordingly.
 13. A method of screening for agents suspected of having mammalian, in vivo or in vitro, telomerase modulating activity as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that it comprises (i) providing one or more of human telomerase (hTERT or human EST2) and telomerase RNA together in an assay medium or cell together with a protein or fragment thereof of the second aspect and the suspected agent, (ii) lysing the cell if present and treating the lysate to provide a fraction containing the protein or fragment, (iii) mixing the fraction or medium containing the protein or fragment together binding agent specific for binding the protein or fragment and (iv) assessing the content of bound fragment from step (iii) for telomerase and/or telomerase RNA content and (v) correlating the amount of bound telomerase activity or RNA with activity of the suspect agent as either an inhibitor or activator of interaction of human in vivo telomerase activity or an inactive accordingly.
 14. An antibody capable of binding a protein or peptide as claimed in claim 6 or claim
 7. 15. A method of providing or enhancing human telomerase activity in a cell that lacks or has relatively low native human telomerase activity comprising recombinantly incorporating nucleic acid, particularly DNA, as claimed any one of claims 1 to 5 into the cell in functional relationship with a promoter active in said cell.
 16. A vector or recombinant DNA encoding a dominant negative mutant EST1 protein or fragment as claimed in claim 6 or 7 sufficient to inhibit telomerase subunit assembly or binding to teleomeres when expressed in a cell, particularly a tumour cell.
 17. A method of treating a mammalian patient in need of therapy for a tumour which has telomerase activity comprising transforming the tumour cells with a vector comprising DNA as claimed in claim
 16. 18. A method of treating a mammalian patient in need of therapy for a disease wherein cells are losing the ability to replicate with resultant deficit in tissue function characterised in that it comprises transforming one or more of these cells with nucleic acid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 such that it is in functional relationship with a promoter functional in said cells.
 19. A vector, such as a viral vector comprising a nucleic acid and optional promoter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
 5. 20. A PCR primers comprising from 10 to 30 contiguous bases of the sequence SEQ ID No 1 or SEQ ID No 3 or complementary sequence thereto.
 21. An oligonucleotide probe comprising from 15 to the full length contiguous sequence of SEQ ID No 1 or SEQ ID No 3 or complementary sequence thereto.
 22. An assay composition comprising a DNA, cell, antibody or protein as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 together with one or more of mammalian teleomerase, telomerase RNA and a DNA to be extended.
 23. An assay apparatus capable of screening for agents having mammalian telomerase modulating activity characterised in that it comprises a DNA, protein, cell or antibody as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
 22. 24. A composition for modulating mammalian telomerase activity characterised in that it comprises at least one agent that has been identified as a modulator of said mammalian telomerase activity by a method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to
 13. 25. A composition for modulating mammalian telomerase activity characterised in that it comprises as least one agent that has been identified as a modulator of said mammalian telomerase activity using a DNA, protein, cell or antibody as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
 24. 26. A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a disease involving abnormal replication of cells comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of an active as identified by a method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to
 13. 27. A method of treating a patient in need of therapy for a disease involving abnormal replication of cells comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of an active as identified using a DNA, protein, cell or antibody as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
 24. 28. Use of an agent that has been identified as a modulator of said mammalian telomerase activity by a method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 for the manufacture of a medicament for modulating mammalian telomerase activity in a telomerase associated disease.
 29. Use of an agent that has been identified as a modulator of said mammalian telomerase activity using a DNA, protein, cell or antibody as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24 for the manufacture of a medicament for modulating mammalian telomerase activity in a telomerase associated disease. 